The Greek-owned orderbook has exceeded the 1,000-vessel threshold. Greek shipowners are pursuing a massive shipbuilding programme which, according to a Xclusiv report, reached 1,005 vessels across the main ship types at the end of September 2026.
Investment by Greek shipowners in new vessels has been rising rapidly since mid-2023. Despite hundreds of new vessels of all types having been delivered during this period, new orders have far outpaced deliveries.
Therefore, the Greek-owned fleet is expanding with next-generation vessels, while at the same time most Greek shipping companies are selling older tonnage at very high prices, given that, for the first time since the 2004-2008 golden cycle, all shipping markets are at high or very high levels – including the tanker market.
Dominant in tankers
As tanker freight rates have remained at elevated levels for at least two years and soaring to stratospheric levels from March 2026 onwards, Greek shipowners, who control around one in four tankers worldwide, are also dominating new tanker orders.
According to Xclusiv data, the Greek orderbook for new tankers of all types has reached 463 vessels, accounting for 28% of the global orderbook by vessel count.
Greek shipowners are investing across all tanker segments, with large tankers, particularly VLCCs and Suezmaxes, dominating.
More specifically, they have 105 VLCCs and 130 Suezmaxes on order. In addition, there are 86 Aframaxes and LR2s, 37 Panamax/LR1s, 79 MR2s, as well as 15 MR1s and 11 small tankers.
Bulkers
Greek shipowners account for 12% of new bulk carrier orders worldwide. Their total bulk carrier orderbook stands at 210 vessels.
There are 64 Capesizes, 70 Panamax/Kamsarmax/Post-Panamax vessels, 66 Hmax/Supra/Ultra vessels and 10 Handysizes.
Greek shipowners stayed completely out of the bulk carrier newbuilding market during the first eight months of 2025, but subsequently returned with strong ordering activity.
The market remains highly profitable, with some Capesize vessels earning around $50,000 per day on a voyage.
The Greek-owned active bulk carrier fleet stands at 2,766 vessels, according to the latest report by the Union of Greek Shipowners. This represents 22% of total global tonnage.
Containerships
Greek shipowners also have a very strong presence in containerships, particularly in vessels with capacities of up to 13,000 TEUs.
They have a total of 233 vessels on order, including 86 feeders, 57 handy vessels, 29 Panamaxes and 61 Neo-Panamaxes.
The containership market reached unprecedented levels during the pandemic and has continued to post very high profitability, as rerouting has increased amid geopolitical tensions.
Greek shipowners operate one of the world’s largest independent fleets, with an 8% market share and a total of 527 vessels in operation, according to Union of Greek Shipowners data.
LNG and LPG
Greek participation in newbuildings for the seaborne transport of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas remains consistently high.
Greek shipowners have a total of 49 LNG carriers on order, representing a 15% share of the global orderbook, and a further 50 LPG carriers, accounting for 14% of the global orderbook.
The active LNG carrier fleet stands at 172 vessels, representing 23% of the global fleet, while the LPG carrier fleet totals 157 vessels, or 11% of the global fleet.
Source: Naftemporiki