Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan’s largest shipbuilding group, recently held its annual press conference. The company announced that it secured orders for 81 new vessels—totaling approximately 4.06 million gross tons—during the 2025 fiscal year. This volume covers the company’s shipbuilding workload for roughly the next four years, with delivery schedules for some orders extending as far as 2030.
Imabari Shipbuilding stated, “Although we quoted higher prices for the new vessels, we secured orders from shipowners thanks to our shipbuilding quality and the actual operational performance of our ships after delivery.”
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2026, Imabari Shipbuilding cited the impact of a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Japan’s energy transport.
Imabari Shipbuilding stated: “The disruption to the shipping lane has led to a shortage of naphtha-based diluents and a general rise in the prices of various shipbuilding raw materials. Under these circumstances, the company’s primary focus is ensuring the timely delivery of vessels.”
During its annual briefing, Imabari Shipbuilding addressed the green transition, noting that “demand for newbuilds powered by alternative fuels has not yet significantly accelerated, as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has postponed decisions regarding greenhouse gas emissions.”
Regarding business operations, Imabari Shipbuilding indicated that it is currently primarily constructing LNG-powered car carriers and large bulk carriers, with plans to expand into the construction of methanol-powered large container ships and bulk carriers in the 2026 fiscal year.