The relevance of RoRo shipping from the perspective of shippers: The case of the domestic deliveries of parts of two Japanese car manufacturers

Hidekazu Itoh and David Guerrero ()
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Hidekazu Itoh: School of Business Administration [Kwansei Gakuin] - Kwansei Gakuin University

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Abstract: A frequently proposed approach to mitigate transport emissions involves shifting from all-road to an intermodal solution incorporating Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) shipping. While existing academic research predominantly examines this issue from the carrier's standpoint, focusing on enhancing Roro shipping supply to meet shipper demands, this article takes a different perspective by addressing the issue from the viewpoint of the shipper. The aim is to understand the production and commercial conditions under which Roro shipping is a viable alternative to road-based solutions. We analyze the cases studies of two Japanese car manufacturers, receiving parts from supplier plants located in Honshu to their assembly plants in Kyushu. Our findings reveal that the suitability of Roro over road transport is heavily influenced by several factors: (1) transportation volumes, (2) the specific procurement strategies of car manufacturers, (3) the degree of production synchronization between suppliers and assembly plants, and (4) the predictability of vehicle sales. Contrary to prevailing literature, our study suggests that shippers' modal choices are primarily constrained by their own industrial and commercial considerations rather than the availability and frequency of transportation services.

Keywords: automotive industry shipper freight transportation modal shift RoRo shipping Japan; automotive industry; shipper; freight transportation; modal shift; RoRo shipping; Japan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-tre
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Published in WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, In press

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