Imabari Shipbuilding says it completed the purchase of a controlling stake in Japan Marine United, or JMU, on Monday as it seeks to compete against global rivals. The acquisition will create Japan’s largest shipbuilder.
Imabari says JMU is now a subsidiary after it gained a 60 percent stake. The company is expected to challenge Chinese and South Korean rivals.
Imabari and JMU formed a capital and business alliance in ship design and sales as far back as 2021.
They announced the acquisition plan in June 2025 and their combined shipbuilding tonnage is the world’s fourth-largest.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Imabari Shipbuilding President and CEO Higaki Yukito said,” The two firms have the common view that to survive we must take on global competitors. The acquisition will strengthen our competitive edge and enable swift business decisions.”
JMU President Hirose Takashi says he hopes the two companies will contribute to the country’s economic security as well as employment.
Japan’s government is prioritizing support for the shipbuilding sector amid intensifying international competition.
Source: NHK WORLD