17家日企将出资3500亿日元使造船能力倍增

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese shipbuilding industry is set to enhance its capabilities through a significant investment in large cranes, aiming to double its construction volume by 2035, in response to increasing competition from China and Korea [2][4]. Group 1: Investment and Goals - A consortium of 17 Japanese companies, including Imabari Shipbuilding, plans to invest 350 billion yen to improve shipbuilding capacity by introducing large cranes [2][4]. - The Japanese government is working towards a goal of doubling shipbuilding capacity by 2035, recognizing that private funding alone is insufficient for the necessary investments [4]. - A proposal has been made to establish a government-led fund that could mobilize over 1 trillion yen in investments to support the shipbuilding industry [4]. Group 2: Equipment and Production - The introduction of large cranes, costing nearly 10 billion yen each, will allow for the assembly of larger ship modules, thereby increasing the throughput of existing docks [4][5]. - Currently, there is only one domestic company capable of producing large cranes, with delivery times potentially extending to 6-7 years, prompting the industry to seek funding to address these long lead times [5]. Group 3: Market Challenges - The Japanese shipbuilding industry has ceased the construction of LNG carriers since 2019 due to competition from lower-cost producers in China and Korea [5]. - The Japanese government has identified the shipbuilding sector as a key area for crisis management investment in its comprehensive economic strategy [5].