日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 30, 2026 (Tue)

‌【Current of Japanese shipowners】 Renewed interest among Japanese shipowners and shipyards in the Greek market without relying on pro-Japan Greek shipowners

　“The lineup of shipowners coming from Japan has changed somewhat. It feels like the number of regul ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+lineup+of+shipowners+coming+from+Japan+has+changed+somewhat.+It+feels+like+the+number+of+regulars+has+declined%2C+while+the+number+of+newcomers+has+increased.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80From+June+1+to+5%2C+%E2%80%9CPosidonia%2C%E2%80%9C+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+maritime+exhibitions%2C+was+held+in+Athens%2C+Greece.+That+is+how+maritime+industry+insiders+look+back+on+this+year%E2%80%99s+event.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80One+factor+behind+the+decline+in+the+regular+players+appears+to+be+the+reduced+competitiveness+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+S%26LB+%28sale+and+leaseback%2C+charter-back+after+a+sale%29.+As+the+Bank+of+Japan+tightens+monetary+policy%2C+financing+costs+in+Japan+are+gradually+rising%2C+and+the+appeal+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+S%26LB%2C+which+has+capitalized+on+the+interest-rate+differential+between+Japan+and+overseas+markets%2C+is+beginning+to+decline+relative+to+alternatives.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80By+contrast%2C+Greek+banks+are+mounting+an+offensive+with+low-interest+loans.+%E2%80%9CBasel+IV+be+damned.+Greek+players+are+coming+in+with+quite+competitive+rates%2C%E2%80%9C+said+a+finance-industry+source.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80As+a+result%2C+the+regular+Japanese+shipowners+at+Posidonia+now+seem+to+have+concluded+that+there+is+no+need+to+force+themselves+into+low-margin+S%26LB+deals.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Meanwhile%2C+Japanese+shipowners+new+to+dealing+with+Greek+players+have+begun+making+%E2%80%9Cpilgrimages+to+Greece%E2%80%9C+in+an+effort+to+increase+their+channels+for+new+business+even+slightly%2C+as+high+ship+prices+make+it+difficult+for+them+to+place+orders+on+their+own.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80At+Japan+Day%2C+held+on+July+3%2C+2026%2C+quite+a+few+attendees+left+the+venue+as+soon+as+the+organizer%E2%80%99s+and+guests%E2%80%99+speeches+were+over+and+headed+to+other+dinner+engagements%2C+including+business+entertainment.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+financial+industry+source+remarked+with+a+wry+smile%3A+%E2%80%9CPeople+are+leaving+earlier+than+usual.+Isn%E2%80%99t+that+rather+disrespectful+to+the+Japan+Ship+Exporters%E2%80%99+Association%2C+the+organizer%3F%E2%80%9C+However%2C+this+bustle+is+also+evidence+that+Japanese+parties+are+actively+conducting+business+locally.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Trading+companies+also+step+up+in+Athens+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80During+Posidonia%2C+many+orders+from+Greek+shipowners+came+to+light.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Chinese+shipyards+snapped+up+lot+orders+from+major+shipowners+across+the+board%2C+including+Dynacom%E2%80%99s+12+VLCCs+%28Very+Large+Crude+Carriers%29.+Meanwhile%2C+Japanese+shipbuilders+also+steadily+built+up+orders+in+their+specialty+small-+and+medium-sized+segments%2C+including+DryDel%E2%80%99s+medium-sized+bulk+carriers+and+Ionic%E2%80%99s+medium-sized+tankers.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Greece+has+many+%E2%80%9Cpro-Japan%E2%80%9C+players.+There+is+no+shortage+of+Greek+shipowners+who+place+deep+trust+in+Japanese+quality%2C+including+Costas+Delaportas+of+DryDel%2C+who+has+explicitly+said%2C+especially+regarding+bulk+carriers%2C+%E2%80%9CI+only+place+orders+with+Japanese+shipyards.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80China%E2%80%99s+shipbuilding+capacity+has+also+improved+remarkably%2C+but+Polys+Hajioannou%2C+who+heads+Safe+Bulkers%2C+flatly+states%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+gap+in+secondhand+vessel+values+between+ships+built+in+Japan+and+China+will+not+be+closed+anytime+soon.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80At+the+completion+stage%2C+fuel-efficiency+performance+of+vessels+built+in+Japan+and+China+is+beginning+to+show+comparable+figures%2C+but+Japanese-built+ships+appear+to+be+valued+for+their+ability+to+maintain+high+quality+over+many+years+after+entering+service.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Trading+companies%E2%80%99+shipping+divisions+are+also+once+again+seeking+to+strengthen+their+ties+with+the+Greek+market.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+Greece%2C+ITOCHU+Corporation+and+Marubeni+have+built+solid+business+foundations%2C+and+following+the+opening+of+Sumisho+Marine%E2%80%99s+Athens+office+last+year%2C+Orient+Marine+of+the+MITSUI+%26+CO.%2C+LTD.+Group+plans+to+open+a+local+base+this+year.+Somec%2C+too%2C+has+launched+a+renewed+offensive+since+this+spring%2C+taking+its+entry+into+the+ORIX+Group+as+an+opportunity.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+trading+company+representative+stationed+in+Athens+says%2C+%E2%80%9CGreek+shipowners+remain+eager+to+place+orders+despite+high+ship+prices+and+delivery+dates+being+far+off.%E2%80%9C+However%2C+it+is+true+that+Greek+shipowners%2C+major+ones+in+particular%2C+are+strengthening+their+ties+with+Chinese+shipbuilders%2C+given+the+gap+in+shipbuilding+capacity+between+Japan+and+China.+Japanese+maritime+industry+officials+intend+not+to+take+%E2%80%9Cpro-Japan%E2%80%9C+sentiment+for+granted+and+in+redeveloping+the+Greek+market.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Without+Greenspan+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMany+Greek+shipowners+are+using+%E2%80%99inflation%E2%80%99+as+an+excuse+for+the+rush+to+place+newbuilding+orders.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80One+afternoon+in+Tokyo%2C+a+financial+industry+source+made+that+observation+about+Greece%E2%80%99s+recent+investment+activity.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Many+Greek+shipowners+have+traditionally+adhered+to+the+ironclad+rule+of+%E2%80%9Csell+high+and+buy+low.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+despite+ship+prices+now+hovering+near+their+highest+levels+in+about+20+years+since+the+China+bubble%2C+many+Greek+shipowners+are+continuing+to+invest+aggressively+in+newbuilds.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+Japanese+shipyard+executive+said%3A+%E2%80%9CLast+year%2C+Greek+shipowners+were+almost+entirely+absent+from+orders+placed+with+Japanese+yards.+But+this+year%2C+we+have+been+feeling+strong+momentum+in+orders+from+Greece.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Why+are+Greek+shipowners+deviating+from+the+usual+theory+and+buying+%E2%80%9Cwhen+prices+are+high%E2%80%9C%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+executive+points+out%2C+%E2%80%9CIn+addition+to+firm+charter+market+conditions%2C+soaring+material+and+equipment+costs+caused+by+global+inflation+are+fueling+a+growing+view+that+ship+prices+will+not+fall+even+if+buyers+wait.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Many+Greek+shipowners+are+pushing+ahead+with+newbuilding+orders+in+tandem+with+vessel+sales.+However%2C+even+so%2C+some+Greek+shipowners+reportedly+still+do+not+have+sufficient+cash+and+are+seeking+financing+for+ships+under+construction.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Newbuilding+investment+is+being+spurred+by+a+global+wave+of+inflation.+The+aforementioned+financial+industry+source+spoke+as+follows+while+paying+tribute+to+former+Federal+Reserve+Board+%28FRB%29+Chairman+Alan+Greenspan%2C+who+died+on+June+22.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFrom+the+late+1980s+to+the+early+2000s%2C+Mr.+Greenspan+curbed+inflation+through+skillful+monetary+policy.+By+contrast%2C+President+Trump+is+now+pressuring+the+FRB+and+letting+inflation+run+unchecked.+Moreover%2C+the+prolonged+wars+in+Ukraine+and+the+Middle+East+are+accelerating+inflation.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80He+added%2C+%E2%80%9CIn+abnormal+times%2C+should+shipowners+also+make+investment+decisions+that+depart+from+conventional+wisdom%3F+Naturally%2C+however%2C+significant+risks+also+exist+there.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%28Japanese+Ship+Owners+Reporting+Team%29+%3Cbr%3E%3D+Published+once+a+month+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%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【国内船主の今】(409)「親日」に甘えず再開拓。ギリシャ詣で、顔触れに変化

2026/06/30(火)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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