The Japanese shipbuilding industry continues to decline, Japanese media reports: the core issue is not just technology, but also includes a shortage of labor.

Against the backdrop of a global shipping demand surge and an accelerating trend of green ship replacements, the Japanese shipbuilding industry continues to experience a downward trend. According to the latest data released by the Japan Ship Exporters' Association, new shipbuilding orders for Japan in the 2025 fiscal year totaled 9.04 million gross tons, a 15% decrease compared to the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has set a goal to increase domestic shipbuilding capacity to 18 million gross tons by 2035, nearly doubling from the 2024 level. Yahoo News analysis suggests that this goal faces significant challenges based on the current industry situation. The decline in the Japanese shipbuilding industry is evident in declining orders and global market share. Japan's global market share in the shipbuilding industry, which used to be the world's largest for a long time, had fallen to third place by 2024, accounting for only about 8%. Japanese media analysis indicates that the core issue the industry is facing is not just technological, but also a severe shortage of labor. Several shipyards in Japan are currently unable to fully utilize their dock facilities due to this shortage. For example, the utilization rate at the main factory of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in Tsuneishi has dropped by approximately 40% from its peak, partially due to a lack of skilled technicians and engineers. Some companies have even started expanding their overseas production bases in order to maintain their construction capacity in regions where it is easier to find engineers.