The Global Steel Ship Plate Market was valued at USD 45.2 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 62.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.1% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is primarily fueled by rising global trade volumes, increasing demand for new commercial vessel construction, and extensive naval fleet modernization programs across major maritime nations.

As shipbuilding evolves toward larger, more efficient, and more specialized vessels, the demand for high-performance steel plates that offer superior strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance intensifies. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Global Steel Ship Plate Industry—a group of leading steel manufacturers and innovators who are supplying the essential materials for the world’s shipbuilding industry.

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🔟 1. POSCO

Headquarters: Pohang, South Korea
Key Offering: EH36, AH36, High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Ship Plates

POSCO is a global leader in steel production and a primary supplier of advanced shipbuilding plates to major shipyards worldwide. The company is renowned for its high-tensile strength steel plates that meet stringent international classification society standards, including DNV GL, ABS, and LR.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Advanced thermo-mechanical control process (TMCP) technology for superior plate properties

• Leading supplier to Korean shipbuilding giants like Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries

• Strong focus on developing lightweight, high-strength plates for fuel-efficient vessel designs

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Steel Ship Plate Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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9️⃣ 2. JFE Steel Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: JFE-EWEL® series, Extra-thick Ship Plates

JFE Steel is a major player in the high-grade steel plate market, supplying specialty ship plates for demanding applications like LNG carrier containment systems and ice-class vessels. Their technical expertise in producing ultra-thick and high-strength plates is widely recognized.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Pioneer in JFE-EWEL® plates with excellent weldability and low-temperature toughness

• Strategic partnerships with Japanese shipbuilders including Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United

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8️⃣ 3. Nippon Steel Corporation (NSSMC)

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: YP47, NSSMC High-Strength Plates, Corrosion-Resistant Plates

Nippon Steel Corporation is one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced steel producers. Its ship plate division offers a comprehensive range of products certified by all major maritime classification societies, catering to the entire spectrum of vessel types.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Development of “Super HITEN” series for superior weld crack resistance

• Extensive R&D in corrosion-resistant steels for extended vessel service life

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7️⃣ 4. Baosteel Group (China Baowu Steel Group)

Headquarters: Shanghai, China
Key Offering: General Strength and High-Strength Ship Plates

As a core subsidiary of the world’s largest steelmaker, China Baowu Steel Group, Baosteel is a dominant force in the Asian ship plate market. It is a critical supplier to China’s vast shipbuilding industry, which holds the largest global market share in terms of deadweight tonnage.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Mass production capabilities serving high-volume domestic shipbuilding demand

• Investment in advanced continuous casting and rolling mills for consistent plate quality

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Steel Ship Plate Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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6️⃣ 5. ArcelorMittal

Headquarters: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Key Offering: Strenx® Performance Steel, Naval Defense Plates

ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaker outside China, serves the European and global shipbuilding markets with a strong portfolio of high-value ship plates. The company is a key supplier for both commercial shipyards and specialized naval contractors.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Leading provider of Strenx® high-strength steels for lightweight ship structures

• Strong presence in the European market, supplying plates for complex vessel projects

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5️⃣ 6. Hyundai Steel

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: HSA Series, Thick Plates for Shipbuilding

Hyundai Steel is a key pillar of the Hyundai Motor Group and a major domestic supplier to South Korea’s prolific shipbuilding sector. Its strategic location and integration with Hyundai Heavy Industries create a powerful vertical supply chain.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Integrated supply chain advantage with affiliated shipbuilding conglomerate

• Focus on producing large, single-piece plates to reduce welding requirements in ship construction

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4️⃣ 7. Shougang Group

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Ship Plates for Bulk Carriers and Container Ships

Shougang Group is one of China’s major state-owned steel enterprises with significant production capacity for shipbuilding plates. The company supplies a substantial portion of the domestic market, supporting China’s position as the world’s leading shipbuilder.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Large-scale production of cost-competitive plates for high-volume commercial vessel segments

• Continuous modernization of plate mills to improve product quality and dimensional tolerances

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3️⃣ 8. Ansteel Group (Angang Steel Company)

Headquarters: Anshan, Liaoning, China
Key Offering: High-Strength Ship Plates, Offshore Structural Steel

Ansteel Group is another Chinese steel giant with a formidable presence in the ship plate market. The company produces a wide range of steel grades suitable for various ship types and has a strong focus on research and development for advanced marine steels.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Significant investment in R&D for next-generation marine steels with enhanced properties

• Strategic focus on serving the growing demand for plates used in offshore support vessels and structures

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2️⃣ 9. Nanjing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Nanjing Steel)

Headquarters: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Key Offering: Specialized Ship Plates, Nickel-Clad Plates for Chemical Tankers

Nanjing Steel has carved a niche in the production of specialized ship plates, including corrosion-resistant and nickel-clad plates used in the construction of chemical tankers and other vessels carrying aggressive cargoes.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Expertise in producing clad steel plates for demanding chemical marine transport applications

• Strong regional presence in the Yangtze River Delta, a major hub for Chinese shipbuilding

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1️⃣ 10. Dongkuk Steel

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: DK series Shipbuilding Plates, Medium and Heavy Plates

Dongkuk Steel is a prominent South Korean steelmaker specializing in flat products. It is a reliable supplier of quality ship plates to both domestic and international shipyards, with a reputation for consistency and technical service.

Key Innovations & Market Position:

• Established supplier with a long history of serving the Korean shipbuilding industry

• Focus on maintaining stringent quality control to meet the high standards of major classification societies

Get Full Report Here: Global Steel Ship Plate Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Steel Ship Plates Demands Higher Performance and Sustainability

The steel ship plate market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional grades remain the volume leader, the industry is increasingly focused on developing advanced high-strength steels, environmentally friendly production processes, and specialized alloys for next-generation vessels.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Accelerating demand for lightweight, high-strength plates to improve vessel fuel efficiency and reduce emissions

• Growing need for specialized steels for LNG carriers, ice-breakers, and ultra-large container ships

• Increased emphasis on sustainable steelmaking and the use of recycled content in ship plates

• Digitalization and automation in plate production for enhanced quality control and supply chain efficiency

Get Full Report Here: Global Steel Ship Plate Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying the backbone of global shipbuilding—they are driving the technological evolution of maritime infrastructure.