In 1987 Yugoslavia ranked third in the world in shipbuilding. Construction and repair of ships contributed heavily to the domestic economy by bringing in hard currency. In the late 1980s, this was the only Yugoslav industry exporting more than half its output; in 1987 thirty-seven of forty-three ships built in Yugoslav shipyards were sent abroad. The ninety ships planned for export between 1986 and 1990 were to earn about $US2 billion. Seagoing, rivergoing, fishing, and engineering ships went to Liberia, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovak, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. Receiving countries used Yugoslav ships for a variety of purposes, from transport of fruits and vegetables to outfitting the Soviet navy. Major shipyards were the Uljanik Shipyard at Pula, the May 3 Shipyard at Rijeka (the largest in Yugoslavia), the Split Shipyard, and the Dunavbrod Association of inland shipyards, based in Zagreb. The Jugotanker firm, based at Zadar, had one of the world's largest tanker fleets.

Data as of December 1990

NOTE: The information regarding Yugoslavia (former) on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Yugoslavia (former) Shipbuilding information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Yugoslavia (former) Shipbuilding should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.