Japan’s shipbuilding industry is accelerating its shift to greener and more digital operations under a government-led rebuilding drive, opening more opportunities for South Korean marine equipment suppliers.
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, known as KOTRA, said April 21 it will join the city of Busan and the Korea Marine Equipment Association, or KOMEA, at “Sea Japan 2026,” running from April 22-24 in Japan, to operate a pavilion showcasing top Korean marine equipment products. KOTRA also published a report titled “Japan’s Shipbuilding Revival Policy and Market Entry Opportunities.”
KOTRA said the push is aimed at helping Korean firms respond to changes driven by Japan’s shipbuilding reconstruction policy. Japan held about half of the global shipbuilding market in the 1970s, but its share fell to 5.4% last year as South Korea and China rose. Japan’s government drew up a “Shipbuilding Industry Revitalization Roadmap” in 2025, calling for shipbuilding capacity to double to 18 million gross tons by 2035, alongside large-scale investment in digitalization and decarbonization.
Under that policy direction, Japanese shipbuilders are stepping up investment in production automation, autonomous navigation technology and development of eco-friendly vessels, KOTRA said. With mandatory implementation of a greenhouse gas emissions trading system starting in April this year, demand is rising quickly for carbon-reduction equipment and propulsion systems based on hydrogen, ammonia and LNG.
Structural pressures are also reshaping the market. Japan’s shipbuilding sector faces labor shortages and aging facilities, driving demand for robots, data-driven operations and equipment that improves maintenance efficiency. KOTRA said this is expanding openings for Korean companies with strengths in areas such as AI-based ship safety management and smart design and maintenance solutions.
At Sea Japan 2026, KOTRA will hold product displays and business consultations with 20 Korean companies. The pavilion will feature AI-based safety management systems, eco-friendly ship equipment, and design and maintenance solutions, with KOTRA aiming to support export results through networking and B2B meetings with global buyers.
Sea Japan is Japan’s largest shipbuilding and maritime exhibition, bringing together global companies and experts across shipbuilding, shipping and marine equipment, and is seen as a key platform for entering the market.
KOTRA Vice President Kim Kwan-mook said Japan’s roadmap “is an opportunity for South Korea and Japan to respond together to changes in the global maritime industry,” adding that KOTRA will continue supporting Korean marine equipment companies seeking to expand into Japan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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