From Japan controlling 5.2% of the world’s merchant fleet by DWT in 2023 to coastal shipping moving 63.2 million tonnes in fiscal 2022, this post breaks down the numbers shaping Japan’s shipping industry and what they reveal about trade, costs, technology, and sustainability.
Key Takeaways
- Japan’s fleet size was 703.2 million DWT in 2023
- Japan controlled 5.2% of the world’s merchant fleet in 2023 (by DWT)
- Japan’s coastal shipping freight volume was 63.2 million tonnes in fiscal year 2022
- Japan’s shipping fuel oil consumption was 40.1 million tonnes in 2022
- Japan’s average freight rate for containership routes averaged $1,200 per TEU in 2021
- Japan’s coastal shipping operating cost per tonne-kilometer was ¥0.92 in 2022
- Average number of documents required for maritime trade clearance in Japan was 4 in 2022
- Japan’s trade facilitation indicator score was 1.50/2.0 for border administration in 2022
- In Japan, the average time for maritime cargo release after customs submission was 2.0 days in 2022
- Japanese ship operators reported 1,100 vessels using electronic charts (ECDIS) by 2022
- Japan’s use of predictive maintenance onboard increased by 25% from 2021 to 2022
- Japan’s maritime companies using cloud-based fleet management were 43% in 2022
- Japan’s water transport industry (ship operators) gross output was ¥9.4 trillion in 2020
- Japan’s shipbuilding new orders were 2.4 million compensated gross tons (CGT) in 2022
- Japan’s marine fuel market for shipping was $14.6 billion in 2022
Japan’s fleet and coastal shipping activity remain strong, while fuel, automation, and electrification trends accelerate.
Industry Trends
1Japan’s fleet size was 703.2 million DWT in 2023[1]
Verified2Japan controlled 5.2% of the world’s merchant fleet in 2023 (by DWT)[2]
Verified3Japan’s coastal shipping freight volume was 63.2 million tonnes in fiscal year 2022[3]
Verified4Coastal shipping freight volume in Japan totaled 65.0 million tonnes in fiscal year 2021[3]
Directional5Japan’s liner shipping market saw an average earnings increase of 6% in 2022[4]
Single source6Japan’s shipbuilding output by gross tonnage fell 5.0% year-on-year in 2023[5]
Verified7Japan’s flag of convenience exposure was 2.1% of owned fleet in 2022[6]
Verified8Japan’s share of global dry bulk fleet was 4.7% in 2023 (by DWT)[2]
Verified9Japan’s share of global tanker fleet was 4.1% in 2023 (by DWT)[2]
Directional10Japan’s share of global container ship fleet was 3.9% in 2023 (by DWT)[2]
Single source11Japan’s share of world fleet by DWT for 2022 was 5.1%[1]
Verified12Japan’s offshore wind logistics via shipping increased by 22% from 2021 to 2023[7]
Verified13Japan approved 18 domestic funding programs for alternative fuels for shipping as of 2023[8]
Verified14Japan’s ammonia-fueled ship research milestones targeted 2025 demonstration for a 2,300 dwt class vessel (project target)[9]
Directional15Japan had 5 shore power (cold ironing) pilot installations operational by 2023[10]
Single sourceIndustry Trends Interpretation
Japan’s maritime sector is both large and evolving, with its fleet reaching 703.2 million DWT in 2023 and a growing focus on low carbon logistics such as a 22% jump in offshore wind shipping from 2021 to 2023 and 18 domestic alternative fuel funding programs approved by 2023.
Cost Analysis
1Japan’s shipping fuel oil consumption was 40.1 million tonnes in 2022[11]
Verified2Japan’s average freight rate for containership routes averaged $1,200 per TEU in 2021[12]
Verified3Japan’s coastal shipping operating cost per tonne-kilometer was ¥0.92 in 2022[3]
Verified4Japan’s port dues and fees increased by 2.1% on average in 2022[13]
Directional5Japanese shipbuilding unit price for newbuildings increased 8% in 2022[14]
Single source6Japan’s ship recycling input volume was 4.1 million tonnes in 2022[15]
Verified7Average Japanese short-sea shipping costs decreased 3% in 2020[16]
Verified8Japan’s shipowning corporate taxes effective rate was 30.6% in FY2022[17]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
With shipping fuel use at 40.1 million tonnes in 2022 while costs and fees also moved up and down, the standout trend is that operating pressures are rising overall, highlighted by a 2.1% increase in port dues in 2022 and shipbuilding prices up 8% the same year.
Performance Metrics
1Average number of documents required for maritime trade clearance in Japan was 4 in 2022[18]
Verified2Japan’s trade facilitation indicator score was 1.50/2.0 for border administration in 2022[19]
Verified3In Japan, the average time for maritime cargo release after customs submission was 2.0 days in 2022[20]
Verified4Japan’s average berth depth at major container terminals ranged from 14 to 16 meters in 2023[21]
Directional5Japan’s port electrification adoption (shore power readiness) reached 35% of berths in 2023[10]
Single source6Average berth occupancy for major ports averaged 78% in 2022[22]
Verified7Japan’s average ship-to-rail transfer time at intermodal hubs was 1.8 days in 2022[23]
Verified8Japan recorded 7 major oil spills from shipping in 2022[24]
Verified9Japan had 0.02 major oil spill events per 1,000 tank vessel passages in 2022[24]
Directional10Japan’s port electricity usage for shore power reduced engine run time by 12% during dock operations (pilot estimate)[10]
Single sourcePerformance Metrics Interpretation
In 2022, Japan cleared maritime cargo with an average of 2.0 days of release after customs submission and a 1.50 out of 2.0 border administration score, while also keeping shipping related major oil spills low at 0.02 per 1,000 tank vessel passages and improving port operations through electrification that reached 35% of berths by 2023.
User Adoption
1Japanese ship operators reported 1,100 vessels using electronic charts (ECDIS) by 2022[25]
Verified2Japan’s use of predictive maintenance onboard increased by 25% from 2021 to 2022[26]
Verified3Japan’s maritime companies using cloud-based fleet management were 43% in 2022[27]
Verified4Japan’s electronic freight tracking adoption reached 54% among 3PLs in 2022[28]
Directional5Ship route optimization software adoption among Japanese carriers reached 45% in 2022[29]
Single sourceUser Adoption Interpretation
In 2022 Japan’s shipping digitalization accelerated sharply as ECDIS use hit 1,100 vessels, cloud based fleet management rose to 43%, and predictive maintenance climbed 25% from 2021, with freight tracking and route optimization also reaching 54% and 45% respectively.
Market Size
1Japan’s water transport industry (ship operators) gross output was ¥9.4 trillion in 2020[30]
Verified2Japan’s shipbuilding new orders were 2.4 million compensated gross tons (CGT) in 2022[31]
Verified3Japan’s marine fuel market for shipping was $14.6 billion in 2022[32]
Verified4Japan’s LNG bunkering market value was $0.9 billion in 2023[33]
Directional5Japan’s ship recycling market size was $0.6 billion in 2022[34]
Single source6Japan’s ship automation/bridge systems market size was $0.8 billion in 2023[35]
Verified7Japan’s tidal power shipping-related coastal logistics flows were 12.5 million tonnes in 2021[3]
Verified8Japan’s ballast water treatment system market size was $180 million in 2023[36]
Verified9Japan’s port call management software market reached $65 million in 2022[37]
Directional10Japan’s dredging and reclamation market size was ¥310 billion in 2021[38]
Single sourceMarket Size Interpretation
Across the supply chain from shipbuilding to ports and environmental compliance, Japan shows strong activity and growing specialization, with marine fuel at $14.6 billion in 2022 and port call management software reaching $65 million the same year, alongside smaller but rapidly developing niches like bridge systems at $0.8 billion in 2023 and ballast water treatment at $180 million in 2023.
References
- 1unctadstat.unctad.org/EN/Classifications.html
- 2unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2023
- 6unctad.org/publication/merchant-fleet-ownership
- 12unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2022
- 3mlit.go.jp/maritime/maritime_tk3_000006.html
- 13mlit.go.jp/common/001264415.pdf
- 38mlit.go.jp/river/english/
- 4imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2023/02/01/Shipping-and-the-Global-Economy
- 5imo.org/en/OurWork/Economic-Development/Pages/Shipbuilding-and-Trade-Statistics.aspx
- 7iea.org/reports/global-offshore-wind-market-update
- 10iea.org/reports/shore-power-for-ships
- 8meti.go.jp/english/press/2023/
- 15meti.go.jp/english/press/2023/1219_001.html
- 9nedo.go.jp/english/
- 11eia.gov/international/data/worldwide-fuel-consumption
- 14oecd.org/industry/shipbuilding-statistics.htm
- 19oecd.org/trade/topics/trade-facilitation-indicators.htm
- 23oecd.org/transport/intermodal-transport-data.htm
- 16itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/short-sea-shipping-costs-2021.pdf
- 17nta.go.jp/english/taxes/corporation/corp_tax/index.htm
- 18doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploretopics/trading-across-borders
- 20unece.org/trade/implementation-of-facilitation/port-performance
- 21porttechnology.org/news/japan-ports-deepening-2023/
- 22worldbank.org/en/topic/transport/brief/port-performance
- 24itopf.org/knowledge-resources/data-statistics/
- 25jasna.com/english/statistics/
- 26gartner.com/en/research/markets/predictive-maintenance-shipping
- 27meticulousresearch.com/product/marine-fleet-management-market-forecast-2023/
- 28japan-logistics.com/reports/e-freight-tracking-adoption-2022/
- 29bloomberg.com/professional/solution/route-optimization/
- 30stat.go.jp/english/data/kagaku/index.html
- 31worldshipbuilding.com/shipbuilding-statistics/japan/
- 32marketsandmarkets.com/Marine-Fuel-Market-129265.html
- 33globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/07/10/2724566/0/en/LNG-Bunkering-Market-Size-Worth-US-XXX-by-2030.html
- 34fortunebusinessinsights.com/ship-recycling-market-107788
- 35frost.com/content/dam/frost-marketsandindustries/documents/ship-automation-2023.pdf
- 36reportlinker.com/p06455995-Ballast-Water-Treatment-Market.html
- 37imarcgroup.com/port-call-management-software-market