India and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cooperation on sustainable ship recycling, with several Indian facilities moving closer to recognition under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation.
India and the EU have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the field of sustainable ship recycling, with both sides expressing optimism over the ongoing progress to include Indian ship recycling facilities under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR).
During the discussions, both sides reviewed the audit and compliance process currently underway for Indian yards applying for EU recognition, and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall exchanged views on the same. At present, more than 30 ship recycling yards in the country are applying for EU recognition, including six yards that are in the process of compliance and approval. Sonowal said three facilities have successfully completed all the necessary procedures and can now apply to be included under the EUSRR framework.
According to UNCTAD estimates, India's ship recycling market share has jumped from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4 per cent in 2025, making it the world's largest ship recycling destination. In 2025, nearly 2.99 million gross tonnes of ships were recycled in the country, a jump of almost 60 per cent from 2024, when 1.86 million gross tonnes of ships were recycled.
It has been observed by Sonowal that the Indian units have developed themselves in such a way that they have equipped themselves with proper infrastructure and process to achieve international standards, along with waste water treatment plant, scientific handling of waste, multi-specialty health care centre with Red Cross Society, and proper workers housing facility. The government also inspects them periodically.
In the future, India aims to recycle almost 16,000 ships within the next decade, which represents a US$8 billion commitment to support the development of its shipbuilding and ship recycling industry.
Commissioner Roswall welcomed the progress and suggested that a Joint Working Group be set up to coordinate the next steps in the process. She also noted her readiness to visit recycling facilities in India after the assessment is completed, reiterating that the EU's approach is in line with the International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
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