Flap Rudder Market Size & Share 2021 to 2027
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, & Forecast.
Report ID: GMI5015
|
Published Date: March 2021
|
Report Format: PDF
Download Free PDF
Authors:
Preeti Wadhwani, Aishvarya Ambekar
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
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:
Click here to Buy Section of this Report
Market, By Flap Material
Market, By Fit
Market, By Ship
The above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following:
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
✓ Market Reality Check
Trust & credibility
Verified data sources
Trade publications
Security & defense sector journals and trade press
Industry databases
Proprietary and third-party market databases
Regulatory filings
Government procurement records and policy documents
Academic research
University studies and specialist institution reports
Company reports
Annual reports, investor presentations, and filings
Expert interviews
C-suite, procurement leads, and technical specialists
GMI archive
13,000+ published studies across 30+ industry verticals
Trade data
Import/export volumes, HS codes, and customs records
Parameters studied & evaluated
Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →