Flap Rudder Market Size By Flap Material (Metal, Composites), By Fit (Linefit, Retrofit), By Ship (Bulk Carriers, Oil & Gas Carriers, Offshore Vessels, General Cargo Ships, Container Ships, Ferries & Passenger Ships), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021 – 2027

Flap Rudder Market Size

Flap Rudder Market size valued at USD 160.8 million in 2020 and will grow at a CAGR of 4.3% between 2021 and 2027. Rising seaborne trade and ship repair activities will foster industry growth.
 

A flap rudder is a multi-section rudder consisting of a blade with a trailing edge flap activated by a mechanical or hydraulic system. It offers significant lift per rudder angle and 60% - 70% higher maximum lift compared to the conventional rudder of the same shape, size, and area. Moreover, it improves maneuvering at low-speed by blocking the forward thrust of the propeller. Flap rudder is suitable for general cargo carriers, container feeders, car carriers, cruise liners, research vessels, fishing vessels, etc.
 

Favorable economic conditions in conjunction with marine infrastructure developments will bolster maritime trade activities over the next few years. Maritime trade is the backbone of international trade and plays a pivotal role in shipping activities. It accounts for nearly 80% of worldwide trade in terms of volume and 70% in terms of revenue. The majority of raw materials and manufactured goods are transported by sea routes. These aforementioned trends will generate the need for additional sea vessels in the future, thereby triggering shipbuilding activities and spurring the flap rudder industry growth.
 

Cruise tourism is witnessing gradual popularity as people seek unique and customized experiences. Rising spending propensity and luxury travel trends will fuel the growth of cruise tourism. Many leading tourism companies offer customized packages in-line with new destinations and added benefits to attract new customers. Such prospects associated with cruise tourism will support flap rudder market expansion through 2027.
 

The coronavirus pandemic has crippled the global maritime trade in a significant manner. The crisis took a heavy toll on supply chains of various industries, leading to plummeting cargo volumes. Capacity reduction and cost minimization were implemented to maintain profitability within the shipping industry. The unprecedented impacts of the pandemic led to a sharp decline in new ship orders.
 

Flap Rudder Market Analysis

Composite material segment is projected to witness around a 4.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2027. The use of composite materials for manufacturing rudder flaps is rising on account of their versatile operational characteristics. They offer significant weight-savings, thereby enabling easier handling during transport and assembly. Additionally, the implementation of composite materials can significantly minimize raw material waste. They aid in the manufacturing of hull surfaces with improved propulsion characteristics including high lift and low drag.
 

Rudder flaps made of composite materials are ideal for lightweight structures. Becker Marine Systems, one of the leading players, introduced composite flaps in its various rudders. Lightweighting characteristics and the ability to achieve low carbon footprints will augment the usage of composites within flap rudders in the future.
 

The linefit segment captured more than 80% of the flap rudder market share in 2020. The selection of suitable rudders during ship designing and development depends on various factors including ship type, maneuvering parameters, load-bearing capacities, etc. Flap rudders are preferred for ships with requirements for easy maneuvering and fuel-savings. The key criteria for flap-linkage ratio and flap-area ratio must be met to achieve optimum operational efficiency. Significant variations in flap-linkage ratio and flap-area ratio can lead to the shifting of the pressure center and reduction in rudder efficiency. Moreover, the distance between the trailing edge of the skeg and the leading edge of the flap must be properly maintained to enhance the rudder’s hydrodynamic characteristics.
 

The oil & gas carriers is predicted to capture over 25% market share by 2027. The rising transportation demand for crude oil and petroleum flap materials will bolster the maritime trade through oil tankers. Gas carriers witnessed significant growth over the past few years. Rising oil & gas exploration activities will support the flap rudder market expansion. Oil & gas transportation by sea is likely to experience a strong growth trajectory due to cost efficiency, large capacity utilization, and flexible waterways.
 

In 2020, Asia Pacific flap rudder market generated around USD 120 million revenue led by rising seaborne trades among developing economies. The countries are key maritime trade centers contributing to a significant portion of the global seaborne trade.
 

Asia Pacific accounts for more than 50% of the global maritime trade volume. In 2019, Asian seaports held over 60% of the unloading of goods and more than 40% of the loading of goods. Asian seaports handled unloading of 6.9 billion tons of goods and loading of 4.5 billion tons of goods for the same year. Asia Pacific holds a dominating position in the shipbuilding sector. China, Japan, and South Korea collectively captured 80% of the global shipbuilding activities. Favorable trends associated with seaborne trade coupled with infrastructural availability will propel market growth.
 

Flap Rudder Market Share

Industry participants are adopting various strategies including flap material differentiation & development, strategic partnerships & collaborations, and mergers & acquisitions to gain competitive advantages. In April 2019, Kongsberg Gruppen acquired Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine. This will help the company to strengthen its foothold in the market and expand its global footprint with representation in 40 countries.
 

The key players in the flap rudder market include

• Becker Marine Systems GmbH
• Kongsberg Gruppen
• Damen Marine Components
• Kamome Propeller
• Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd.
• YMV Kreyn ve Makina Sistemleri A.?.
• De Waal BV
• Kemp Propulsion Systems
• Wuxi Delin Marine Equipment Co., Ltd.
• Jiangsu China Empire Offshore Engineering Equipment Manufacture Co., Ltd.
   

This market research report on flap rudder includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD million from 2017 to 2027 for the following segments:

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Market, By Flap Material

• Metal
• Composites

Market, By Fit

• Linefit
• Retrofit

Market, By Ship

• Bulk carriers
• Oil & gas carriers
• Offshore vessels
• General cargo ships
• Container ships
• Ferries & passenger ships
• Others

The above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Norway
  • Denmark
  • Switzerland
  • Netherlands
  • UK
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Malaysia
• LATAM
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• MEA
  • Turkey
  • UAE