Hyundai Heavy bags record $3.3bn orders in May

Seoul: Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipbuilder, says it secured orders for 31 vessels worth $3.3bn this month, its largest-ever monthly total.

The figure, which beat a monthly record set just two months ago, includes orders placed with its affiliate Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for seven ships.

Hyundai has strengthened its foothold in the container ship market with new orders for 44 vessels, bringing its total container vessel order backlog to 80. The company now accounts for 45 percent of the total global market.

As of May, the order backlog for both Hyundai Heavy and Samho has reached 290 ships, which will keep the shipyards busy for at least three-and-a-half years.  [31/05/07]