GMS Weekly Podcast | Week 47 Ship Recycling Market Update: Forums and Frictions

In this 2025 Week 47 edition of the GMS Weekly Podcast, host Ingrid and co-host Henning review another challenging week in global ship recycling as forums and frictions shape sentiment across South Asia. Oil futures slipped to around USD 57.7 per barrel, freight rates stayed active but below last year’s highs, local steel plate prices weakened in key recycling destinations, and currency devaluations in India and Bangladesh continued to erode recyclers’ purchasing power. Regulators in the United States and European Union also moved ahead with new sanctions on Russia and Iran, targeting dark fleet activity and raising questions over how hundreds of older vessels will eventually be recycled. Global Market Overview Market volatility persisted through late November. Oil prices are now more than 6% lower on the month and around 16% below the same period in 2024. The Baltic Dry Index improved week on week but remains far under last year’s levels, which limits demolition candidates even as older tonnage creeps closer to recycling age. Combined with softer steel prices and unstable foreign exchange markets, this has kept supply tight and negotiations cautious at ship recycling yards. Bangladesh Bangladesh remains the price leader in South Asia, with demo indications around USD 410 per LDT for dry bulk, USD 430 for tankers, and USD 440 for container vessels. Despite the pricing edge, 2025 has been thin on actual volumes. Inflation has hovered between 8% and 9%, and the Bangladeshi Taka weakened again to roughly BDT 122.5 per USD. Local steel plate prices slipped to about USD 525.9 per ton as yards struggle to move stockpiled recycled steel while cheaper imported scrap continues to pressure domestic demand. Political tensions ahead of the February 2026 elections and sporadic unrest are adding to the cautious tone. On the positive side, Bangladesh has now reached 20 HKC approved yards, with more facilities working through the certification process and ongoing worker training through the GMS Sustainable Ship and Offshore Recycling Program. India The Alang recycling market stayed quiet. Few new deals were reported as Indian recyclers faced a sharp currency move. The Rupee fell to around Rs 89.6 per USD, bringing it close to the Rs 90 level that undermines confidence in future pricing. Steel plate prices improved slightly to approximately USD 398 per ton but remain below the USD 400 threshold. Smaller or less preferred ships are still priced under USD 400 per LDT even though nominal demo indications stand near USD 380 for bulk carriers, USD 400 for tankers, and USD 410 for container ships. With limited tonnage, weaker currency, and competition from lower-cost imported steel, Alang’s yards are under pressure, and India’s long-standing advantage as the main HKC compliant destination is beginning to narrow as Bangladesh and Pakistan add more approved yards. Pakistan Pakistan delivered the week’s most encouraging structural development. Gadani’s first HKC compliant recycling yard is expected to receive formal approval shortly, with two or three additional yards targeted over the next few months and further upgrades planned into mid 2026. This represents a significant step in bringing Pakistan fully into the compliant recycling landscape. In the short term, however, trading conditions remain subdued. Domestic steel plate prices fell by USD 11 to around USD 586 per ton, still the highest level in the region but weighed down by cheaper product imported from Iran. The Pakistani Rupee firmed slightly to about PKR 282.6 per USD, yet this was not enough to lift sentiment. For the third consecutive week, there were no meaningful fresh market arrivals, and demo indications remain around USD 400 per LDT for bulkers, USD 420 for tankers and USD 430 for containers. Turkey The Aliaga market was steady but very quiet. Prices held in the USD 260 to 270 per LDT range for bulk and tanker units and close to USD 280 for container vessels. The Turkish Lira weakened further, moving beyond TRY 42.4 per USD. Steel plate prices and demand were largely unchanged, leaving local yards operating in a constrained, high cost environment with little new tonnage to work on. Market Sentiment and Outlook Across South Asia and Turkey, ship recyclers are facing the combined weight of weaker currencies, softer or stagnant steel values, and a limited flow of recycling candidates. At the same time, HKC progress in Bangladesh and the first approvals in Pakistan are building a stronger foundation for compliant and sustainable ship recycling in the years ahead. As 2026 approaches, attention is turning to how the industry will manage the growing pool of aging dark fleet ships and 30 year old vessels once freight markets ease and demolition activity finally starts to pick up.   For full details, vessel rankings, and port positions, download the GMS Weekly on our website or mobile app. Follow GMS on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates.