Japan ship industry players team up to fend off China shipbuilders

Joint venture will order, own vessels from domestic companies, making new demand

The new joint venture will order bulk carriers from Imabari Shipbuilding, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Onomichi Dockyard. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)

MIYU FUKAWA

January 30, 2026 07:31 JST

TOKYO -- Somec, a Japanese ship brokerage and subsidiary of financial services company Orix, will establish a joint venture with three Japanese shipping and shipbuilding companies to own vessels that the venture orders, creating new demand as Japan struggles to compete with Chinese shipbuilders.