Samsung Heavy Industries has won orders for six large vessels worth a combined 1.65 trillion won ($1.2 billion), surpassing its total commercial ship orders for all of last year. The shipbuilder said on 14 Sep 2026 that it signed contracts with an Oceania-based shipowner for four large liquefied natural gas carriers worth $1 billion and two crude oil tankers worth $200 million. The four LNG carriers have a capacity of 200,000 cubic meters, larger than the standard 174,000-cubic-meter model, allowing fewer voyages to transport the same volume of cargo and improving operating efficiency. Samsung Heavy's orders have been climbing alongside a broader recovery in the LNG carrier market. According to Clarksons Research, global newbuilding orders in the first half of the year rose 66% year-on-year in compensated gross tonnage terms, with LNG carrier orders reaching 59 vessels, or 9.7 million cubic meters, nearing the full-year total for last year. Supply chain diversification for energy security and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are cited as key drivers of the increase. Commercial ship orders at Samsung Heavy have reached $7.3 billion this year, exceeding last year's total of $7.1 billion and 28% above the company's $5.7 billion annual target. The company has secured orders for 18 LNG carriers, 14 crude oil tankers, four container ships, four gas carriers and two ethane carriers. Its offshore division has also won two floating LNG production unit contracts worth $4.4 billion, or 54% of its annual target. Combined shipbuilding and offshore orders now total 44 vessels and units worth $11.7 billion, or 84% of the company's $13.9 billion annual goal.