日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jul 14, 2025 (Mon)

‌【Interview】Sumitomo Corp. Executives on Ship Business Expansion Strategy

Mr. Takanaru Toyota, General Manager of Ship & Marine SBU, Sumitomo Corporation

　--In April last year, the company restructured its Shipbuilding Business Division into the Ship & M ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80--In+April+last+year%2C+the+company+restructured+its+Shipbuilding+Business+Division+into+the+Ship+%26+Marine+SBU+%28Strategic+Business+Unit%29.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Toyota%3A+%E2%80%9CIn+April+2021%2C+we+consolidated+our+ship+trading+business+%28brokerage+of+new+ships%2C+secondhand+vessels%2C+and+chartered+ships%29+into+our+wholly-owned+subsidiary%2C+Sumisho+Marine.+The+parent+company%E2%80%99s+ship+division+has+been+concentrating+on+developing+new+businesses%2C+while+also+handling+the+ship-owning+business%2C+which+is+as+central+to+the+shipping+division+as+the+trading+business%2C+through+the+main+operations+of+its+subsidiaries.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAfter+the+transition+to+the+Ship+%26+Marine+SBU%2C+Sumisho+Marine+has+continued+to+focus+on+strengthening+its+trading+business%2C+while+the+parent+company+has+set+a+policy+of+strengthening+its+marine+business+in+order+to+achieve+new+growth.+One+of+the+pillars+of+this+is+expanding+investment+in+offshore+wind-related+vessels.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Investing+in+offshore+wind+power+plants%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+is+the+initiative+progressing%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+line+with+the+aforementioned+policy%2C+by+last+year+we+had+established+a+joint+venture+with+a+Dutch+shipping+company+to+own+and+operate+RORO+heavy+lift+vessels+capable+of+transporting+components+for+large+wind+turbines.+In+the+CSOV+%28Commissioning+Service+Operation+Vessel%29+sector%2C+which+supports+construction+and+maintenance+work%2C+we+have+invested+in+Norway%E2%80%99s+IWS+Fleet%2C+which+has+the+second+largest+fleet+in+the+world.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+see+offshore+wind+as+a+growth+market+with+extremely+high+potential+and+expect+to+see+floating-type+wind+power+generation+emerge+in+the+future.+However%2C+floating+technology+development+is+still+in+its+infancy%2C+and+a+supply+chain+%28SC%29+has+not+yet+been+established.+With+an+eye+on+the+future+expansion+of+the+offshore+wind+power+market%2C+we+will+continue+to+invest+in+related+vessels+necessary+for+the+construction+of+SCs.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+demand+for+the+offshore+wind-related+ships+in+which+you+have+invested%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+two+participating+companies+are+completing+new+ships+one+after+another%2C+with+inquiries+stronger+than+expected+and+high+vessel+utilization+rates.+Although+some+say+offshore+wind+is+facing+headwinds+due+to+high+material+prices%2C+existing+projects+are+progressing+smoothly.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+the+offshore+wind+market+grows%2C+there+is+a+trend+toward+larger+turbines+and+greater+distances+from+shore%2C+and+the+shortage+of+vessels+capable+of+handling+these+has+not+changed+and+is+actually+becoming+more+pronounced.+We+are+currently+preparing+new+projects+to+accelerate+investment+in+offshore+wind-related+vessels.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Expanding+fleet+again%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Four+years+have+passed+since+the+trading+business+was+transferred+to+Sumisho+Marine.+What+are+the+results+so+far%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+number+of+new+shipbuilding+transactions+at+Sumisho+Marine+reached+a+record+high+last+year.+While+the+company+is+steadily+growing+its+trading+business+in+this+way%2C+its+parent+Ship+%26+Marine+SBU+is+focusing+on+developing+new+businesses%2C+enabling+it+to+expand+investments+in+new+areas+as+mentioned+above.+We+conclude+that+we+have+been+able+to+expand+our+earnings+base+across+the+entire+ship+and+marine+business+over+the+past+four+years.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+direction+of+your+ship-owning+business%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+incorporate+offshore+wind-related+ships%2C+which+have+different+characteristics+from+market+ships%2C+into+our+ship+type+portfolio%2C+and+will+also+resume+newbuilding+of+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers%2C+setting+a+course+for+expanding+investment.+As+a+result+of+selling+off+older+ships+over+the+past+few+years%2C+the+company%E2%80%99s+current+fleet+has+been+slimmed+down+to+about+half+of+its+peak+size.+We+would+like+to+double+the+current+figure+in+the+short+to+medium+term%2C+and+are+looking+for+good+investment+opportunities.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+prepare+ships+when+new+shipbuilding+prices+remain+high%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s+going+to+be+a+different+approach+than+before.+In+the+past%2C+new+ships+with+delivery+dates+of+around+two+years+were+ordered+with+medium-+to+long-term+chartering%2C+but+now+slipways+are+booked+up+for+the+next+three+and+a+half+to+four+years%2C+increasing+the+risk+from+a+change+in+the+tide+of+fuel+conversion+that+may+take+place+in+the+meantime.+In+light+of+the+changing+environment%2C+we+are+exploring+new+ways+to+invest+in+ships%2C+such+as+placing+orders+without+chartering%2C+investing+in+shipowners+with+a+certain+size+of+fleet%2C+and+even+buying+secondhand+vessels.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Strengthening+Asia+and+Japan%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+look+back+on+last+year%E2%80%99s+market%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Higashii%3A+%E2%80%9CNewbuilding+negotiations+progressed+smoothly+in+the+first+half+of+the+year+as+the+shipping+market+remained+firm.+On+the+other+hand%2C+in+the+second+half+of+the+year%2C+the+gap+between+the+softening+charter+market+and+the+high+new+shipbuilding+prices+widened%2C+and+business+negotiations+generally+slowed+down.+As+for+overseas+shipowners%2C+mainly+Greek+shipowners+who+had+been+purchasing+a+large+number+of+vessels+between+2022+and+the+first+half+of+2024%2C+European+shipowners+have+been+taking+a+wait-and-see+stance+since+the+second+half+of+2024%2C+and+are+still+in+this+position+today.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Are+there+any+notable+trends+among+Japanese+ship+owners%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+impression+is+that+the+number+of+shipowners+ordering+new+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers+without+chartering+is+gradually+expanding.+On+the+other+hand%2C+there+are+a+certain+number+of+Japanese+ship+owners+who+wish+to+own+new+ships+that+are+maintained+by+Japanese+shipping+operators+%28operating+shipping+companies%29+on+their+own+initiative.+In+recent+years%2C+Japanese+shipping+operators+have+been+widely+soliciting+shipowners+through+bidding+for+newbuilding+program+of+new+PCTCs+and+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers%2C+and+there+have+been+cases+where+they+were+inundated+with+interested+shipowners.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+outlook+for+the+future+shipbuilding+and+ship+chartering+market%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+the+beginning+of+the+year%2C+the+dry+bulk+market+weakened%2C+causing+shipowner+sentiment+to+cool%2C+and+a+series+of+policies+from+the+Trump+administration+have+further+increased+uncertainty+about+the+future.+In+response+to+this%2C+many+shipowners%2C+particularly+European+ones%2C+are+currently+taking+a+wait-and-see+stance+regarding+orders%2C+and+it+is+expected+that+newbuilding+negotiations+will+remain+slow+for+the+time+being.+On+the+other+hand%2C+Asian+shipping+companies+with+cargo+and+some+Japanese+ship+owners+remain+eager+to+secure+shipping+space+and+are+stepping+up+their+sales+efforts.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMajor+shipyards+around+the+world+are+advancing+their+gantt+charts+to+the+futures%2C+and+with+the+global+inflationary+trend%2C+it+is+likely+that+new+shipbuilding+prices+will+remain+high+for+some+time+to+come.+On+the+other+hand%2C+if+the+sluggish+charter+market+continues+for+a+long+time%2C+shipowners+who+are+in+financial+difficulty+may+move+en+masse+to+sell+their+ships%2C+which+is+likely+to+increase+downward+pressure+on+secondhand+vessel+prices.+In+particular%2C+there+is+an+impression+that+overseas+shipowners+are+looking+to+buy+secondhand+vessels+at+rock+bottom+prices+rather+than+building+new+ships.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%28Posted+from+time+to+time%29%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Takanaru+Toyota+graduated+from+the+School+of+Law%2C+Waseda+University+in+1992+and+joined+%3Cb%3ESumitomo+Corp%3C%2Fb%3Eoration.+In+2011%2C+he+was+appointed+European+Transport+Equipment+Division+%28Amsterdam%29+of+%3Cb%3ESumitomo+Corp%3C%2Fb%3Eoration+Europe+Group%2C+and+in+2018%2C+he+became+General+Manager+of+the+Shipping+Business+Division.+He+has+been+in+his+current+position+since+April+2024.+56+years+old.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Naohiko+Higashii+graduated+from+the+Faculty+of+Commerce%2C+Doshisha+University+in+1992+and+joined+%3Cb%3ESumitomo+Corp%3C%2Fb%3Eoration.+In+2009%2C+he+became+Deputy+General+Manager+of+the+Second+Shipbuilding+Business+Department%2C+in+2016+he+became+Deputy+General+Manager+and+Head+of+the+Mechanical+and+Electrical+Division+of+%3Cb%3ESumitomo+Corp%3C%2Fb%3Eoration+Taiwan%2C+and+in+April+2021+he+was+seconded+to+Sumisho+Marine%2C+where+he+served+as+Representative+Director+and+Head+of+Sales+Department%2C+before+assuming+his+current+position+in+October+2021.+55+years+old.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【商社に聞く　不確実性増す海運・造船】(3)住友商事船舶海洋SBU長・豊田高徳氏、住商マリン社長・東井直彦氏、トレード・新規分野とも成長

2025/07/14(月)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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