IHI to Buy More Overseas Components
According to a May 14 report from Bloomberg, IHI Corp., Japan’s second-largest heavy-machinery maker, plans to increase imports of shipbuilding components to counter a stronger yen. The company’s IHI Marine United Inc. unit plans to buy parts including pumps and motors from South Korea and other nations, said Shigemi Kurahara, the incoming president of the Tokyo-based subsidiary. IHI forecast a 64 percent decline in shipbuilding operating profit this fiscal year to $10m because of the stronger yen. (Source: Bloomberg)
Japanese Steelmakers Eye Consolidation
Japan's second-largest steelmaker, NKK Corp agreed with two other Japanese firms to consider future integration of their steel plant operations in a bid to combat severe competition. The alliance with heavy electric machinery maker Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. and heavy machinery maker Hitachi Zosen Corp. was prompted partly by the emergence of giant overseas rivals, the three companies said. As the first step of the alliance, the companies will set up a joint venture in March, capitalized at $1.74 million, for sales of a variety of heavy machines used in the steel-making process to the domestic and overseas markets. The new company, which plans to launch operations in April, will be owned 34 percent by NKK, 33 percent by Sumitomo Heavy and 33 percent by Hitachi Zosen.
Mitsubishi Denies GE Rumors
Japan’s largest heavy machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. denied a newspaper report that it is in talks with General Electric Co. on a business alliance. Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun said the two companies have started negotiating to form a business alliance for small power generators. "It is not true that we have started such talks," said a spokeswoman for Mitsubishi Heavy. But she said the company will consider a variety of alliances in many business fields in the future. The newspaper said limited capital investment by Japanese power companies amid a prolonged economic slump had forced the two rivals to join hands. In May, Mitsubishi Heavy reported its first-ever loss, for the business year that ended last March.
Cosco and Kawasaki Sign Deal
Cosco Group, China's shipping conglomerate, signed a deal with Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd to build a shipyard in northeast China. Cosco would control 70% of the facility, which would cost $500m in its first phase, and the Japanese heavy machinery maker would hold the remainder. Source: Malaysia Star
