Key highlights
- Demonstration (Aug 2025–Jan 2026) in Tokai and Chugoku showed multi-shipper rail freight can use the same container for continuous round-trip operations.
- The trial reported a 57% reduction in CO2 emissions from the modal shift to collaborative rail freight.
- Participants included the Chemicals Working Group (chair: Prof. YANO Yuji), Mitsui Chemicals, and government bodies METI and MLIT.
- The Chemicals Working Group will advance a voluntary action plan announced in December 2023 to build a sustainable logistics model.
Demonstration overview
From August 2025 to January 2026 the Chemicals Working Group (chair: Professor YANO Yuji, Ryutsu Keizai University) under the Physical Internet Realization Council (led by METI and MLIT) ran a test to realize collaborative rail freight in the Tokai and Chugoku regions.
Key findings
The trial showed multi-shipper collaborative rail freight is feasible and can support continuous round-trip operations using the same container; the modal shift achieved a 57% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Next steps and participants
The broader Chemicals Working Group, including Mitsui Chemicals, will proceed with implementing the voluntary action plan announced in December 2023 and work on building a sustainable logistics model aligned with government logistics innovation and modal shift initiatives.
