India has set a target to recycle nearly 16,000 ships over the next 10 years while committing $8 billion to accelerate the growth of shipbuilding and environmentally sustainable ship recycling.
The announcement came as India and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in green ship recycling during discussions between Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall.
A key focus of the meeting was the ongoing process of securing recognition for Indian ship recycling yards under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR).
Both sides reviewed the progress of technical audits and regulatory compliance required for Indian facilities to be included under the European framework.
Sonowal said increasing the number of globally recognised recycling yards in India would strengthen the international circular economy by encouraging environmentally responsible recycling practices while generating employment and reinforcing the country’s maritime capabilities.
She also reiterated the importance of unannounced inspections to uphold transparency, accountability and high environmental standards before any final decision is taken by EU member states.
The commissioner expressed her willingness to visit Indian recycling facilities after the assessment process is completed.
The discussions also reaffirmed that the EU’s approach remains aligned with the outcomes of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations as well as the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
India has steadily emerged as a global leader in ship recycling. According to the latest UNCTAD estimates, the country’s share of global ship recycling increased from 30.1 per cent in 2024 to 35.4 per cent in 2025.
