The Marine Propulsion Engine Market size is estimated at USD 37.96 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 43.23 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 2.63% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
The COVID-19 outbreak hindered the growth of the marine propulsion engine market with continuous lockdowns and the subsequent economic slowdown across the world. Marine mobility declined by 13.77% during the COVID-19 pandemic across the world. The ships were stranded in the waters as they were not allowed to enter the ports and the shipping companies had to bear additional costs to keep their ships stranded in international waters. In 2020, the traveling restrictions also led to a decline of 42.77% in the cruise industry across the world. Such factors led to a huge drop in the demand for new ships, adversely impacting the shipbuilding and marine propulsion engine markets. The most significant near-term impact on marine engines was felt through supply chains. However, post-pandemic, as restrictions are beginning to ease, the market is expected to gain momentum during the forecast period.
The marine propulsion engine market is driven by the need for faster, cleaner, and fuel-efficient engines. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) drafted a new rule where the sulfur content in marine fuel will be reduced to 0.5% from 3.5%. This new regulation is expected to cut down emissions from ships by 77%. This development has caused the ship operators to lower sulfur content fuels, such as marine gas oil, thus driving the demand for the electrification of marine vessels.
The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to observe rapid growth over the forecast period due to augmented international trade and export from the region. Both India and China have come up as major hubs of business in the region, with an increased pace of activities in the marine manufacturing sector and maritime trade due to the presence of ports like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nhava Shava (India), and Singapore. Growth in the Asia-Pacific market will also be driven by new technology developmnets by key players.
Thus, the aforementioned factors are projected to produce a decent growth in the marine propulsion engine market over the next five years.
Currently, some 100,000 seagoing merchant ships sail in the seas and oceans, with an installed power ranging from roughly 1 to 100 megawatts (MW) per ship. With very few exceptions, all these ships are propelled by diesel engines, and the majority of these have a direct drive system while some have diesel-electric propulsion or hybrid system. Diesel engines are favored for marine propulsion applications because of their unmatched power and torque ratings. The major players in the market are planning and launching the latest products to attract more customers and gain market share.
Another major factor anticipated to drive the market is the increasing orders for LNG carriers due to increased demand for LNG worldwide.
Thus, owing to such factors, diesel engines are expected to hold a considerable share in the marine propulsion engine market in the coming years.
Asia-Pacific is expected to hold a major portion of the marine propulsion engine market, and it is anticipated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period.
This trend is attributed to the presence of the world's top three shipbuilding countries - China, South Korea, and Japan - in the region. Some of the world's busiest ports, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, are also in Asia Pacific, making the region the largest hub for maritime transportation in the world. Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are also seeing considerable growth in their shipbuilding industries. Some of the world's largest shipping companies, like COSCO, NYK Line, and Evergreen Marine Corporation, are based in the region. These factors ensure healthy demand for ships and marine propulsion engines in Asia-Pacific.
The Chinese authorities have made emission requirements even stricter than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. The China GB15097 regulation, which is commonly known as C1 and C2, includes limits for particulate matter (PM). Thus, key players are launching new engines that meet these stringent emission norms, which are further driving the market in Asia-Pacific.
The major share of the Asia-Pacific marine propulsion engine market is held by South Korean, Chinese, and Japanese players. However, over the past few years, local companies have been launching new products to gain some share of the market. For instance,
Such developments in the region are anticipated to ensure the domination of Asia-Pacific as the leading region for marine propulsion engines over the next five years.
The marine propulsion engine market is moderately consolidated due to the presence of key players like MAN Energy Solutions SE, Wartsila Corporation, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd, Yanmar Co. Ltd, and MaK, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Marine. These companies continuously focus on innovating products to provide environmentally sustainable, flexible, economically sound, and efficient customer solutions. The companies are trying to expand their brand values in the market through joint ventures and new product launches.
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