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- Information Sharing Meeting toward Promoting Cooperation on the Container Shortage Problem to Be Held among Stakeholders
Information Sharing Meeting toward Promoting Cooperation on the Container Shortage Problem to Be Held among Stakeholders
April 21, 2021
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) will jointly hold a meeting to share information among stakeholders on April 23 (Fri.), in order to promote cooperation on the container shortage problem. The meeting will be held via online conference.
In the meeting, information on the current situation, efforts, etc., will be shared among stakeholders. The aim will be to address the container shortage problem through cooperation, based on a shared understanding.
With regard to international marine container transport, the whole world is facing a tight supply-and-demand situation due to a lack of international marine container shipping capacity and a shortage of empty containers, and there are growing concerns of a lasting impact from the situation. The causes of the problem include shipping congestion at major international ports, delays in exporting loaded containers and returning empty ones, and the fact that demand for international shipping has recovered rapidly after the temporary decrease in international trade caused by the global lockdown accompanying the spread of COVID-19.
In light of this, on February 5, 2021 MLIT drafted a document calling for cooperation regarding efficient use of containers and securing of transport space and issued it to the organizations involved in the issue—shippers, shipping companies, logistics operators, etc. The aim of the document is to improve the tight supply-and-demand situation in relation to international marine container transport to and from Japan.
METI, MLIT, and MAFF will now jointly hold a meeting with the aim of listening to organizations involved in the issue and sharing information on the current situation, efforts, etc. The meeting will be held as follows:
1. Date and time:
April 23, 2021 (Fri.), 14:00-16:002. Format:
Online conference3. Main agenda items:
- Comprehensive explanation of the situation (Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.)
- Efforts by the public sector (MLIT)
- Efforts by the private sector (Organizations involved)
4. Planned participants - Relevant Organizations: Shippers, shipping companies, logistics operators, etc.
Relevant ministries and agencies: MLIT, MAFF, and METI
- The results of the meeting will be posted on the MLIT website at a later date.
Division in Charge
Logistics Policy Planning Office, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group