[THE INVESTOR] Korean shipbuilders ranked No. 1 in the number of new ship orders received last month, industry data showed on Aug. 14.

Korean shipbuilders clinched orders equal to 970,000 compensated gross tons to build 22 vessels, accounting for 48 percent of the total ship orders placed globally, according to the data compiled by global research firm Clarkson Research Services.

Chinese yards came next with 280,000 CGTs, or 15 ships, accounting for 14 percent of the total, with Japanese firms in third place with 120,000 CGTs to build six ships, according to the data.

Last month, a total of 2.01 million CGT worth of deals, or 52 ships, were placed globally, the data showed.

Korea ranked first with new orders worth 4.96 million CGTs, or 115 vessels, in the first six months of this year, marking the first time in three years to be at the head of the pack in the first half. Chinese shipbuilders came second with 4.39 million CGTs, or 203 ships.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)