Current status and future development of the shipbuilding industry in Germany
Sure, the automotive industry is still king in Germany, but German shipbuilding deserves attention too. In 2023, Germany was the
eighth-largest shipbuilding nation in the world— and the largest in Europe. However, the industry faces major challenges amid significant developments.
Current challenges in the shipbuilding industry
The challenges are primarily financial. For instance, some shipyards – such as the
Meyer Werft – which required state intervention at the end of 2024 and had to be rescued through government support. This was primarily due to increased production costs, increased raw material and energy costs as well as global supply chain problems that were the result of the corona pandemic. Additionally, high interest rates and rising financing costs make essential investments in shipyards more challenging.
Current challenges also include strong competition from Asian shipyards, which often offer subsidized ships at lower prices, putting German shipyards under pressure. This is causing problems for German shipyards. The world's five largest shipbuilding nations are all in Asia, with China leading by a wide margin.
In response to competition from Asia, some German shipyards are concentrating increasingly on building very complex ships such as: B cruise ships or also
specialized ships for the offshore wind power industry.
Shipbuilding services
The services in this industry remain largely unaffected by specific developments in shipbuilding. The following are among the most important services in this sector:
- Design: Planning and designing of ships
- Shipbuilding and assembly: Implementation of designs into finished ships
- Maintenance and repair: Regular inspections and repairs
- Specialized Services: This broad category includes services that require highly skilled professionals and are utilized across various industrial and craft sectors.
These include, for example, the following services:
- Manufacturing of ship sections
- Pipeline construction
- Interior design and equipment
- Insulations
- Sandblasting and painting
- Electrical installation
- Installation of HVAC solutions (“Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning”)
Skilled labor shortages in the shipbuilding industry
Like many other industries, the shipbuilding industry is facing a major challenge: the shortage of skilled workers. Many companies in this industry have difficulty recruiting employees with the necessary skills. The job market seems to have dried up.
This is not surprising considering that
the German trade sector is lacking around 125,000 skilled workers – many of them in production, construction, electrical engineering, plumbing, and metal construction. This shortage also impacts the shipbuilding industry.
