Imabari Shipbuilding has completed its acquisition of a 60% controlling stake in Japan Marine United (JMU), officially making JMU a subsidiary and creating Japan’s largest shipbuilder by output. The deal, announced earlier this year, positions the combined group as the world’s fourth-largest shipbuilder by tonnage and is seen as a strategic response to intensifying competition from China and South Korea. Imabari’s president, Higaki Yukito, cited the need to scale up and strengthen competitiveness, while JMU’s president, Hirose Takashi, emphasized the benefits for Japan’s economic security and jobs. The move aligns with Japan’s government plans to consolidate the fragmented shipbuilding sector and double domestic capacity by the mid-2030s through modernization and advanced technology.