World seaborne trade volumes are increasing rapidly in line with world economic growth. Especially in Japan, an island nation, marine transportation accounts for nearly 100% of imports and exports, of which around 60% is carried by Japanese merchant transportation vessels. Moreover, the transportation volume by Japanese merchant vessels on trilateral routes is increasing among Japanese companies expanding overseas business.
Source: SHIPPING NOW 2025–2026
Percentage of world tonnage handled
by Japanese merchant vessels
Japanese merchant vessels account for around 7%.
Japan contributes to world economy as a shipping nation.
World tonnage (Including Japanese merchant vessels)
: 1,664.0 million gross ton
Tonnage carried by Japanese merchant vessels
: 121.62 million gross ton
Source: SHIPPING NOW 2025–2026
Percentage of Japan’s foreign trade handled
by marine transportation
Marine transportation accounts for nearly 100% of Japan’s imports/exports
Source: SHIPPING NOW 2025–2026
“K” LINE is a first-class integrated logistics company in the world grown from the shipping business. We own and operate various types of vessels to correspond to the world’s marine transportation needs.
Source:LSEG Workspace
Since its foundation, “K” LINE has provided transportation services and developed and operated various types of vessels required by customers with world economic development. As of March 31, 2026, we operate around 440 vessels worldwide.
“K” LINE Group Operating Revenues by Segment
FY2025 Consolidated Operating Revenues
¥1,018.3 billion
“K” LINE Group Vessels in Operation
As of FY2025 total 440 vessels
In the Dry Bulk business, we offer a global transportation service for dry bulk cargoes such as steelmaking raw materials (iron ore and coking coal), bauxite, steel products, paper raw materials (woodchip), grains, and coal. In addition to shipments to Japan, we actively provide transportation services across South Korea, China, India, and the Middle East, as well as cross-trade transportation services in the Atlantic region, thereby expanding our business scope. The Dry Bulk Business Unit is advancing decarbonization efforts through initiatives such as wind-assisted propulsion and the adoption of low- and zero-carbon fuels, including biofuels, LNG, methanol, and ammonia.
In the LNG Carrier Business, we offer global transportation services for liquefied natural gas (LNG), an important energy source supporting the transition to a decarbonized society. Leveraging the expertise and network we have cultivated over many years, we provide safe and high-quality transportation services underpinned by long-term, stable contracts, while meeting customers’ diverse needs across the LNG value chain.
The Crude Oil and LPG Carrier Business has developed a global shipowning business for customers both in Japan and overseas engaged in the marine transportation of crude oil and LPG. We also participate in offshore energy development projects, with a drillship and an FPSO operating off Brazil and an FPSO operating off Ghana. In addition, we are expanding our involvement in the transportation of next-generation energy sources, such as ammonia, for which demand is expected to grow, while capturing new transportation demand that supports the transition to a decarbonized society.
Our main area of business is transporting thermal coal from Australia and Indonesia to Japan for use by domestic power utility companies in coal-fired power plants. Our wide-beam bulk carriers developed for transporting thermal coal for power generation have become the basic type for the transport of coal, and thanks to our “Corona Series” of wide-beam carriers, we can provide safe and flexible services that meet the specific coal transportation needs of electric power utility companies.
CCS is attracting attention as one of the practical solutions for achieving net-zero emissions. Within the CCS value chain, “K” LINE provides the maritime transportation services for liquefied CO2 and is actively participating in the world’s first full-scale commercial liquefied CO2 transportation project for CCS. In our offshore wind support vessel business, we provide and operate various types of vessels essential for the construction and maintenance of offshore wind power facilities, including support vessels, transport vessels, and survey vessels. Through these initiatives, we are engaged in businesses that contribute to reducing future environmental impacts.
Since developing and introducing Japan’s first pure car carrier (PCC) in 1970, we have continued to provide high quality transportation services worldwide. In addition, to flexibly respond to diversifying needs, we will also strengthen our High & Heavy (high and heavy cargoes such as construction machinery, agricultural machinery, and railway cars) transportation. Since the 2020 fiscal year, we have steadily expanded our fleet of LNG-fueled car carriers, which now stands at 14 vessels, responding to growing customer demand for lower-emission transportation services.
We provide comprehensive logistics services to meet various customer needs for ocean cargo transportation as well as air cargo transportation, tugboats, land transportation, warehousing, and automotive logistics, including storage, processing, and transportation of finished vehicles. In addition, we operate car carrier terminals and container terminals at four ports in Japan–Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Kobe.
Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. operates a wide variety of vessels, such as coastal vessels to / from Asia, including steel products and fuel transport for biomass power plants; RORO vessels and ferries to promote modal shifts in Japan; and dedicated limestone carriers for steel and dedicated coal carriers for electric power. In addition, we see growing demand driven by future offshore development as an opportunity and are working to steadily expand our offshore support vessel business.
In April 2018, the containership businesses of three Japanese shipping companies were integrated to form a new company, ONE. As of March 31, 2026, ONE operates a containership fleet of over 282 vessels (2.23 million TEU). Through our extensive service network covering more than 120 countries worldwide, we provide reliable and prompt international transportation services.
For more details, please refer to the Ocean Network Express (ONE) website.
