Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., South Korea’s leading shipbuilder, said Monday that it is aiming to win $30.6 billion worth of orders this year, up nearly 20 percent from last year.

The shipyard said it is also targeting sales of 27.54 trillion won this year, compared with last year’s 25.2 trillion won.

Hyundai Heavy said its shipbuilding orders jumped 48 percent on-year to $25.5 billion in 2011, helped by growths of its shipbuilding and offshore plants businesses.

The recent rise in vessel orders and prices has brightened the outlook for shipbuilders, but the global economic situations are posing challenges for the industry as a whole, said a company official.

“Due to the slowdown in the global economy, there will be more uncertainties in ship orders, sales,” the official said. 


(Yonhap News)