Imabari-JMU Merger: What It Means for Anchor-Chain Specs
Imabari Shipbuilding and JMU Merge: A Major Global Shift
Recently, the global shipbuilding industry witnessed a major development—the merger process between Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (JMU) has made significant progress. While this industry development has attracted widespread attention, as a company focused on anchor chain production, we will only present it objectively from a factual perspective, maintaining an independent stance and focusing on our own business development.
Imabari Shipbuilding, a veteran player in the Japanese shipbuilding industry, has accumulated profound technical expertise and rich experience in commercial shipbuilding since its founding in 1901. With its exquisite craftsmanship and strict quality control, it has established a good reputation in the industry, and its products are sold worldwide. While JMU was established relatively recently, since its merger with other companies in 2013, it has rapidly integrated resources and increased investment in technological research and development, demonstrating strong competitiveness in shipbuilding technology and services, and gradually becoming an undeniable force in the Japanese shipbuilding industry.
Ranked 4th Globally, with a Capacity of 4.69 Million Tons
Imabari Shipbuilding and JMU have a long-standing and deepening partnership. In 2021, the two companies jointly established Japan Shipbuilding Corporation, engaging in in-depth cooperation in multiple areas such as ship design and development, construction, and marketing. This collaboration has achieved resource sharing and complementary advantages, injecting new vitality into the development of both parties. On June 26, 2025, Imabari Shipbuilding further advanced its cooperation strategy, announcing an agreement with JFE Holdings and IHI to acquire a portion of their shares in JMU, increasing its stake from 30% to 60%, thereby achieving substantial control over JMU. However, this acquisition still requires approval from relevant regulatory authorities in Japan and overseas, and the transaction is expected to take several months to complete.
In terms of capacity data, Imabari Shipbuilding's construction volume in 2024 was 3.28 million gross tons, ranking sixth among global shipbuilders; JMU's construction volume was 1.41 million gross tons, ranking twelfth globally. Following the merger, the combined shipbuilding capacity of the two companies will reach 4.69 million gross tons, surpassing Hanwha Marine to become the fourth largest shipbuilder globally, behind only China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), Hyundai Motors (HD), and Samsung Heavy Industries. This significant increase in capacity will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the supply and demand relationship and competitive landscape of the global shipbuilding market.
Independent R&D of Anchor Chain Technology
For us, an anchor chain manufacturer, every major change in the global shipbuilding industry can bring new market opportunities and challenges. However, we always focus on our own technological R&D, product quality improvement, and production efficiency optimization. We insist on a domestic raw material rate of ≥90%, and all core patents are independently applied for. We possess advanced production equipment and a rigorous quality inspection system. From raw material selection to finished product delivery, every step is carefully controlled to ensure that every anchor chain possesses superior performance and reliable quality.
We deeply understand that the development of an enterprise is inseparable from its own core strength. Therefore, we continuously increase our R&D investment, cultivate a professional technical talent team, and are committed to developing high-performance anchor chain products that meet the needs of different ships. Through our own efforts and accumulated experience, we have secured a certain market share in the domestic market and are gradually expanding into the international market. We have established long-term and stable cooperative relationships with many well-known shipbuilders, providing equal supply regardless of the shipowner's nationality, as long as the ship adopts the China Classification Society (CCS) or international standards.
Every Major Merger in the Industry is an Accelerator of Technological Iteration.
In the context of global economic integration, although the dynamic changes in the international market will have a certain impact on the industry, our company has always adhered to an independent development path, continuously breaking through in core technologies and participating in global competition with products of independent intellectual property rights. We respect the choices and development of every market participant, focusing on improving our core competitiveness and winning market recognition with high-quality products and services.
The merger between Imabari Shipbuilding and JMU is an important milestone in the development of the global shipbuilding industry. We will continue to monitor industry dynamics, but will not change our development pace and strategic direction due to external factors. We believe that with our own strength and efforts, we can steadily move forward in the anchor chain industry and contribute to the development of the global shipbuilding industry.
Every major merger in the industry is an accelerator of technological iteration. We only focus on data, standards, and domestic substitution; the rest is up to the market.
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