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The Busan Metropolitan City to Target the Chinese Market for Eco-Friendly Shipbuilding Equipment in the First and Second Half of 2025

내용

The Busan Metropolitan City announced that, in collaboration with the Busan Marine Equipment Association (Chairperson: Choi Geum-sik), it will dispatch a total of 20 local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to Shanghai and Dalian in China to explore opportunities in the eco-friendly shipbuilding equipment market.

As global trade uncertainty rises amid the U.S.–China tariff dispute, shipbuilding and marine equipment are emerging as promising export sectors. In response, the city plans to send market development delegations to Shanghai (May 27–30) and Dalian (August 20–23) — the two largest maritime industry hubs in China — and host one-on-one export consultation meetings with local buyers.

Support Details:

Eligible companies are local SMEs with less than USD 30 million in export volume from the previous year. The city will select 10 companies for each trade mission based on evaluations of:

• ●Product-market fit

• ●Local market potential

• ●Export capabilities

Selected companies will receive:

• ●Participation in one-on-one buyer consultations

• ●Interpretation services during meetings

• ●50% reimbursement of round-trip airfare

Participants will also visit major shipyards in China and have opportunities to present and promote their products directly to purchasing managers.

In addition, the city will conduct over one month of pre-marketing activities in collaboration with local trade offices and partner organizations to connect companies with verified buyers. Post-consultation support, such as follow-up negotiations and product sample testing, will be provided to maximize contract success rates.

China has maintained the world’s largest shipbuilding volume and order capacity for 13 consecutive years and is steadily increasing global sourcing of eco-friendly and low-carbon ship equipment. This trend presents significant opportunities for Busan-based companies with technological strengths in the sector.

Application:

Companies interested in participating in the Shanghai trade mission must apply through the Busan Export Promotion Agency’s platform (trade.bepa.kr) by April 22, submitting an application form and required evaluation documents.

The recruitment for the Dalian trade mission will be announced at a later date.

Since 2019, the city has actively supported export expansion to China through long-term relationships with major Chinese shipyards and agents. This year marks the resumption of Shanghai trade relations after a six-year pause due to the pandemic. 

Last year’s 2024 Dalian mission yielded 112 consultations and USD 1.15 million (approx. KRW 1.63 billion) in finalized or pending contracts.

Kim Bong-cheol, Director-General of the Digital Economy Bureau of The Busan Metropolitan City, stated:

“Shanghai and Dalian are key hubs in China’s shipbuilding and marine industry, with rapidly growing demand for eco-friendly and smart vessels.
Through these trade missions, we aim to showcase the outstanding technology and products of Busan-based companies and secure an early foothold in the world’s top shipbuilding market.”