Industry Statistics and Rankings
How does this industry perform in United Kingdom compared to Europe?
Country Benchmarking
Industry Data United Kingdom
Ranking are out of 37 European countries for which IBISWorld provides country-level factsheets.
Revenue
#5 In EuropeBusiness
#3 In EuropeEmployees
#5 In EuropeWages
#4 In EuropeEuropean shipbuilding has contended with fierce international competition from Asian shipyards, which have siphoned sales away from cargo shipbuilders and restricted revenue growth over the past decade. The three EU countries with the most significant order books – Italy (through Fincantieri SpA), Germany and Finland – have suffered from weaker order volumes compared to China and South Korea. Shipyards are responding by focusing on producing highly specialised and technologically advanced cruise ships that is difficult for foreign shipyards to match.
Enterprises
Number of businesses in 2025
Biggest companies in the Shipbuilding in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 | Profit (£m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BAE Systems plc | 29,698.7 | 3,630.6 | 12.2 | |
Babcock International Group plc | 5,140.0 | 257.0 | 5.0 | |
Royal IHC | 319.0 | -36.0 | -11.3 |
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom is £8.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 442 businesses in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom are BAE Systems plc, Babcock International Group plc and Royal IHC
What does the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom include?
Passenger ship manufacturing and Military and other non-cargo carrying ship manufacturing are part of the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom is BAE Systems plc.
How competitive is the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and decreasing in the Shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
Domestic industries
Competitors
Complementors
International industries
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry build ships and boats and construct floating structures. The industry also includes ship rebuilding and overhauls. Industry participants don’t manufacture parts of vessels, other than major hull assemblies.
Related Terms
GeopoliticalRefittingOffshore VesselDredgingWhat's included in this industry?
Passenger ship manufacturingMilitary and other non-cargo carrying ship manufacturingRefitting and reconstructing vesselsCargo ship manufacturingCompanies
BAE Systems plcBabcock International Group plcRoyal IHCIndustry Code
3011 - Building of ships and floating structures in United Kingdom
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Performance
Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue
- Employees
- Business
- Profit
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Shipbuilding in the UK industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Shipbuilding in the UK industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Shipbuilding in the UK industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Shipbuilding in the UK industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
European shipbuilders are impacted by the 25% US tariff on steel and aluminium. With these tariffs, European companies face immediate price disadvantages, making their ships less competitive in the US market. The UK-US summit sought to bring down tariffs to help UK shipbuilders.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Shipbuilding in the UK industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Shipbuilding in the UK industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Shipbuilding in the UK industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Total Imports into United Kingdom
- Total Exports into United Kingdom
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Intense import competition damages shipbuilders’ market share. Imports have taken up an expanding share of domestic demand, driven by the competitive advantages held by shipbuilders in China and South Korea, restricting growth prospects for European companies.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Establishments by Region (2025)
Data Tables
- Number of Establishments by Region (2025)
Charts
- Share of Establishments vs. Population of Each Region
Analysis
What regions are businesses in the Shipbuilding in the UK located?
Companies
Data Tables
Top 3 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit margin (2025)
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Shipyards must abide by health and safety regulations and adhere to global standards. European shipbuilders have to follow the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and rules outlined by the Convention on the International Maritime Organisation.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Shipbuilding in the UK industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Steel prices drop, relieving pressure for shipyards. Global steel production shortages have hurt European shipyards because they rely on imports between 2021 and 2024. Steel prices have dropped since then as production expands, reducing costs for manufacturers.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Shipbuilding in the UK industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
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