Japan shipbuilding eyes US port fee windfall, but capacity limits curb gains
- NYK chairman calls for Japanese shipbuilding to target a 20% global market share, viewing US plans to levy port taxes on Chinese ships as an opportunity to recapture lost ground
- Yangzijiang’s sharp drop in new orders reflects market uncertainty, offering Japanese yards a potential opening as owners reassess reliance on Chinese builders
- However, Japanese yards admit to limited capacity, labour shortages and difficulty consolidating the still mostly family-owned sector constrains their ability to capitalise on geopolitical developments
As US port fees disrupt Chinese shipyards, Japan could see a strategic opening to revive its shipbuilding industry, but capacity constraints are limiting upside
