South Korea's shipbuilding industry, which includes the world's biggest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co, is expected to use about 6 million tonnes of steel plates this year. But local steel makers produce only 4 million tonnes of steel plates combined and imports will be needed to make up for the shortfall, Posco said. Hyundai has an order backlog that would keep it busy for the next three and a half years, according to industry data. Posco said the shipbuilding industry would continue to be strong at least until 2015, citing shipbuilding industry forecasts. The South Korean steel maker is slated to become the world's fourth-largest steel maker once Mittal Steel's takeover of Arcelor is completed. Posco shares were up 0.59 percent to 254,500 won as of 0243 GMT, outperforming a 0.32 percent fall in the broader index.