India's Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) offers up to 20% financial aid but caps subsidies at ₹200 crore per vessel, limiting the maximum subsidy to ₹1,025 crore. This cap results in an effective subsidy rate of 19.5% for smaller vessels but only 3.3% for large ships like Panamax tankers, which
typically have contract values around ₹6,000 crore. On 20 Apr 2026, HD Hyundai signed an MoU to build a $4 billion shipyard in Thoothukudi with an annual capacity of 3.5–4 million GT, focusing on Panamax or larger vessels. Each vessel built there will hit the ₹200 crore subsidy cap, putting Indian yards at a disadvantage compared to smaller coastal tanker yards and foreign competitors in China and Korea. The ₹200 crore subsidy cap is a minor guideline line but poses a significant hurdle. Experts suggest revising it before keel laying begins at Thoothukudi to support India's growing shipbuilding ambitions.
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