日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 09, 2026 (Tue)

Interview: NYK Car Carrier Chief Mie Sugano Targets Mediterranean Hub Expansion to Counter Global Choke-Point Risks

Mie Sugano, Managing Executive Officer and General Manager of the Automotive Business Headquarters, NYK

　NYK’s automotive business now has two main pillars: PCTCs and automotive logistics. Boasting one of ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%99s+automotive+business+now+has+two+main+pillars%3A+PCTCs+and+automotive+logistics.+Boasting+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+PCTC+fleets%2C+with+more+than+130+vessels%2C+the+company+offers+automotive+logistics-related+services+in+more+than+20+countries%2C+including+RORO+terminals%2C+pre-delivery+inspection+%28PDI%29%2C+and+inland+transportation.+It+supports+the+global+business+expansion+of+shippers%2C+including+automakers%2C+from+a+logistics+perspective.+We+asked+Managing+Executive+Officer+Mie+Sugano%2C+who+assumed+the+post+of+head+of+the+Automotive+Business+Headquarters+on+April+1%2C+about+her+aspirations+and+other+thoughts.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--First%2C+I%E2%80%99d+like+to+ask+about+your+aspirations.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMy+greatest+mission+is+to+reliably+carry+on+the+automotive+business%2C+with+its+history+and+traditions+built+up+by+my+predecessors%2C+and+pass+it+on+to+the+next+generation.+However%2C+that+does+not+simply+mean+taking+over+the+business+as+it+is.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+basic+management+policy+remains+unchanged%2C+but+the+business+environment+surrounding+us+is+changing+at+a+very+rapid+pace.+In+2023%2C+the+worsening+situation+in+the+Red+Sea+made+it+impossible+to+sail+through+those+waters.+Following+the+emergence+of+geopolitical+risks%2C+we+were+also+buffeted+last+year+by+U.S.+economic+and+maritime+policies%2C+including+the+introduction+of+tariffs+and+a+proposal+to+collect+port+entry+fees+from+PCTCs.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThis+year%2C+military+clashes+broke+out+between+the+U.S.-Israeli+coalition+and+Iran%2C+making+the+Strait+of+Hormuz+unnavigable.+Events+that+render+conventional+assumptions+untenable+within+a+short+period+are+occurring+with+increasing+frequency.+Rather+than+clinging+to+conventional+ways+of+doing+business%2C+we+will+adapt+flexibly+to+the+changing+environment%2C+make+the+best+possible+decisions+at+each+moment%2C+and+ultimately+build+a+strong+and+resilient+business+to+pass+on+to+the+next+generation.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+you+responding+to+the+closure+of+the+Strait+of+Hormuz%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+deploy+PCTCs+to+the+Middle+East+fairly+frequently.+If+this+situation%2C+in+which+the+strait+cannot+be+transited%2C+continues%2C+the+number+of+vehicles+transported+to+the+Middle+East+will+decrease.+Meanwhile%2C+transport+demand+for+regions+outside+the+Middle+East+remains+strong.+As+for+the+United+States%2C+our+main+destination%2C+cargo+movements+have+remained+firm.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CResponses+to+the+closure+of+the+Strait+of+Hormuz+differ+from+one+automaker+to+another.+In+response+to+customer+requests%2C+we+are+taking+measures+such+as+transporting+cargo+to+alternative+ports+outside+the+Persian+Gulf.+Our+policy+of+giving+top+priority+to+the+safety+of+crew+members%2C+vessels%2C+and+cargo+remains+unchanged.+While+upholding+that+policy%2C+we+are+presenting+as+many+alternatives+as+possible.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Closely+monitoring+changes+in+logistics+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--One+of+the+major+changes+in+recent+years+has+been+the+expansion+of+automobile+exports+from+China.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAutomobile+exports+from+China+expanded+at+a+faster-than-expected+pace%2C+from+around+1+million+units+in+2020+to+more+than+7+million+units+in+2025.+As+a+result%2C+the+market+landscape+has+changed+significantly.+We+believe+exports+from+China+will+continue+to+increase+to+some+extent%2C+but+that+the+pace+and+scale+of+that+growth+will+moderate.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+medium+to+long+term%2C+the+rise+of+Chinese+manufacturers+could+lead+to+changes+in+global+automobile+production+bases+and+logistics+flows.+If+production+locations+change%2C+transport+needs+may+shift+from+deep-sea+%28ocean-going%29+routes+to+short-sea+%28coastal%29+routes+and+inland+transport.+We+must+operate+our+business+bearing+in+mind+that+such+structural+changes+may+occur.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Amid+continued+tight+supply+and+demand+for+PCTCs%2C+the+number+of+new+operators+has+been+increasing.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+built+safe%2C+high-quality+transportation+services+together+with+our+customers+over+time.+We+will+minimize+damage+during+transport+as+much+as+possible%2C+and+given+our+intention+to+use+the+vessels+long-term%2C+we+will+also+carry+out+systematic+maintenance+by+leveraging+knowledge+gained+since+construction.+We+believe+that+safety+and+quality+will+surely+become+a+competitive+advantage.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIf+vessel+supply+and+demand+ease%2C+competition+is+expected+to+intensify.+We+are+concerned+that+this+will+happen.+Meanwhile%2C+we+are+focusing+on+environmental+initiatives+in+anticipation+of+intensifying+competition.+Although+momentum+toward+decarbonization+has+somewhat+weakened%2C+the+importance+of+environmental+issues+remains+unchanged+in+the+long+term.+We+will+increase+the+use+of+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+and+biofuels%2C+which+have+a+lower+environmental+impact%2C+and+work+with+our+partners+to+bring+ammonia-fueled+vessels+into+practical+use.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Hub+ports+in+the+Mediterranean+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+strengths%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+greatest+strength+lies+not+only+in+deep-sea+shipping%2C+but+also+in+providing+comprehensive+automobile+transportation+services+on+a+global+scale%2C+including+RORO+terminals%2C+regional+shipping%2C+and+land+transport.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCustomers+demand+tailored+services.+To+flexibly+propose+services+that+meet+those+needs%2C+it+is+essential+to+have+a+fleet+and+network+of+a+certain+scale.+We+are+also+confident+in+our+transport+quality+control.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+not+only+large-scale+intercontinental+transport%2C+but+also+finely+tuned+loops+%28shipping+networks%29+rooted+in+specific+regions.+In+Asia%2C+we+use+Singapore+as+a+hub%2C+and+in+Europe%2C+Zeebrugge+%28Belgium%29%2C+to+meet+transshipment+demand.+We+will+further+strengthen+our+network+by+expanding+our+hubs+in+Egypt+in+the+Middle+East%2C+and+T%C3%BCrkiye+and+Spain+in+the+Mediterranean.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+growth+strategy%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTo+support+our+customers%E2%80%99+sustainable+growth+through+logistics%2C+we+want+to+further+evolve+from+our+traditional+%E2%80%9Cpoint%E2%80%9C+business+to+%E2%80%9Cline%E2%80%9C+solution+proposals+that+connect+networks.+Customer+needs+are+becoming+more+diverse.+In+line+with+this%2C+we+will+strengthen+our+land+logistics+capabilities%2C+including+rail+transport%2C+and+make+greater+use+of+optimal+hub+ports.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+also+considering+strengthening+our+land-based+functions+in+places+where+new+supply+chains+are+emerging%2C+while+focusing+our+expansion+on+regions+where+we+have+strengths%2C+such+as+Southeast+Asia+and+Mexico.+India+is+also+increasing+its+presence+as+an+automobile+export+hub.+Having+taken+an+early+lead+in+automobile+logistics+in+those+countries%2C+we+will+leverage+those+strengths+to+also+engage+in+maritime+transport.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+future%2C+while+continuing+to+focus+on+automobile+transportation%2C+we+would+also+like+to+increase+our+handling+of+high+%26+heavy+cargo+such+as+construction+machinery+and+heavy+equipment.+The+foundation+of+our+business+is+the+strong%2C+long-standing+relationship+of+trust+we+have+built+with+our+existing+customers%2C+with+whom+we+have+developed+shipping+routes+and+logistics+networks+together.+While+strengthening+those+relationships+more+than+ever+before+and+expanding+our+network%2C+we+will+capture+new+demand.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Mie+Sugano+graduated+from+Ferris+University+with+a+degree+in+Japanese+literature+in+1993+and+joined+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E.+In+2017%2C+she+became+Deputy+Head+of+PCTC+Group+I%3B+in+2021%2C+Head+of+PCTC+Group+I%3B+in+2022%2C+Executive+Officer%3B+and+in+April+2026%2C+she+assumed+her+current+position.+%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

【新本部長に聞く】日本郵船常務執行役員自動車事業本部長・菅野みえ氏、ネットワーク拡充へ

2026/06/09(火)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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