Skip to main content
Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Studies and analysis

The European Commission is engaged in a number of studies to analyse key issues related to the maritime sector.

Competitiveness of the European shipbuilding industry

The Study on the Competitiveness of the European Shipbuilding Industry (3 MB) (2009) provides a general overview of the global shipbuilding industry.

It builds on the framework provided by the LeaderSHIP2015 initiative, so as to deliver knowledge and insights into the key drivers of an innovative, competitive and sustainable European shipbuilding industry.

The study starts by providing a reminder of the some of the key historical trends in shipbuilding, highlighting the dominant market share of Asian yards in the industry today, while underlining the strength of the European sector in certain market segments.

The study analyses the competitiveness of the sector and the present economic crisis. The study concludes by reviewing the policy guidelines agreed for the sector, within the framework of LeaderSHIP2015 strategy and its 2007 Progress report.

EU marine supplies industry

The production of vessels requires a wide range of equipment, materials, and specialised services, provided by the marine supplies industry. The study on the Competitive position and future opportunities of the European Marine Supplies Industry (2014) assesses this diverse industry in Europe and its position in the global shipbuilding industry. Beginning with a definition of the various trades involved, it provides a statistical analysis of the industry in EU countries, as well as Norway, and Turkey. It analyses:

  • the impact of the recent shipbuilding crisis;
  • its impact on production and employment;
  • the strategies of leading players to cope with the difficult global environment.

The study ends with a forecast for the different market segments over the coming years and a number of recommendations. Read the Final report (13 MB), Executive summary (1 MB), Annex 1 (2 MB), Annex 2 (4 MB), Annex 3 (2 MB), Annex 4 (15 MB).

Maritime clusters

A range of maritime services are linked to shipbuilding (shipping, inland navigation, seaport services, offshore supply, recreational boating, research and development, education, classification and inspection, bunkering, maritime works, maritime insurance, maritime financing, maritime brokerage, maritime law, crewing, associations, government services, rescue, diving, ship supplies). These services account for a direct production value of around EUR 267 billion annually, according to a 2008 Commission study on maritime clusters.

Green growth

Although shipping is already the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, further reductions to emissions are needed. The implementation of the forthcoming global and European regulation on ballast water, and sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as action on climate change, offer market opportunities for European marine equipment suppliers and shipyards. These are analysed in the study "Green growth opportunities in the EU shipbuilding sector" (2012).