Ship recycling: India targets 16,000 ships and USD 8 billion plan as EU talks advance

India planned to recycle nearly 16,000 ships over the next 10 years, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday. India also committed USD 8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and ship recycling. The announcement came as India and the European Union discussed steps for wider recognition of Indian ship recycling yards.

Representative image

Officials said India and the European Union reaffirmed cooperation on sustainable ship recycling. Both sides said they were confident about progress on including Indian facilities under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR). The talks were part of a wider effort to raise safety and environmental norms in ship end-of-life work.

India ship recycling and EU Ship Recycling Regulation talks

An official statement said Sonowal met Jessika Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. They reviewed audits and compliance checks for Indian yards seeking recognition under the EU framework. The process included inspections and documentation to meet the regulation’s requirements.

Roswall welcomed progress and suggested a Joint Working Group (JWG). The JWG would include the Ministry of Environment and other ministries and organisations. The aim was closer coordination during the next stage of assessments. Roswall also said unannounced inspections were important for compliance, transparency, and accountability.

India ship recycling capacity and circular economy goals

Sonowal said more internationally recognised Indian facilities would support the global circular economy. Sonowal linked recognition to cleaner recycling practices, more jobs, and stronger maritime sustainability. The statement said the discussions showed a growing strategic partnership on sustainable maritime practices between India and the EU.

Roswall said the issue would be discussed with EU member states in the autumn session. Any final decision would come only after that stage. Roswall also said Jessika Roswall was willing to visit Indian ship recycling facilities. The visit would follow the completion of consultations and assessments.

India ship recycling data and UNCTAD estimates

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates showed India’s share of global ship recycling rose. It increased from 30.1 per cent in 2024 to 35.4 per cent in 2025. India recycled 2.99 million gross tonnes (GT) in 2025, up from 1.86 million GT in 2024.

Sonowal said the Government of India was supporting listing of Indian yards through audits and inspections. Sonowal said the process was transparent and based on regulatory compliance. Sonowal added that Indian facilities invested in better infrastructure and operations to meet international standards.

Sonowal said Indian ship recycling facilities had environmental systems and worker welfare measures. Sonowal listed effluent treatment plants and scientific waste management systems. Sonowal also mentioned multi-speciality healthcare facilities supported by the Red Cross Society. Sonowal added that dedicated worker housing was also available.

Sonowal said the government carried out periodic inspections and unannounced checks. Sonowal said these aimed to maintain environmental compliance and worker safety. The official statement said EU recognition could improve global recycling capacity. It added that recognition could support safer end-of-life ship management and resilient maritime supply chains.

With inputs from PTI