TOKYO -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries is dramatically overhauling its traditional shipbuilding business, shifting a large part of commercial shipbuilding to China in what could be a model for other ailing Japanese shipbuilders.
The main goal of Kawasaki's reorganization is to make better use of its shipyard in China, which is larger than its facilities in Japan, and better laid out, allowing for more efficient shipbuilding. Domestic production will be reduced to around 25% from 40%, with China picking up the rest.
