SMM 2026: Strong Order Flow, Shifting Agenda
Clarksons Research, the data and analytics arm of the Clarksons, will be attending the bi-annual shipbuilding and marine equipment trade fair SMM in Hamburg 1st-4th September (Stand B1.OG.303). Reviewing the market backdrop to this year’s SMM, Steve Gordon, Global Head of Clarksons Research, commented: “This week, 50,000 industry participants will gather at the biannual SMM ...
The annual shipbuilding and marine equipment trade fair, SMM, will take place from September 1st to 4th in Hamburg, with 50,000 industry participants expected to attend. This year, the event marks the return of the sectors to "rude" health, as the global newbuilding orderbook increased by 33% to 405.4 million GT and $66 billion in the two years since the previous SMM.
The average backlog of orders is around 4 years, with the shipbuilding and marine equipment sectors projected to exceed previous peak production levels by 2027. Key discussion themes for this year's SMM include geopolitics, the duration of the order "boom," yard capacity, fleet renewal, and the transition to "net zero." While the green transition agenda initially dominated discussions, it has since shifted as shipping becomes more entwined with extreme global geo-political dynamics, driving exceptional cross-segment cash flow.
However, alternative fuel investment share has dropped to 25% of orders by tonnage, reflecting a change in perspective from previous years. The overall outlook for the shipbuilding and marine equipment sectors remains positive, with a focus on understanding and managing the various challenges and opportunities ahead.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
