Japan ports - 2nd update for 15th March - 1200GMT

The entire damaged areas, the northeast Japanese coasts are in the state of chaos. Earthquakes have still repeatedly been shaking the areas. It is extremely difficult to communicate with the local people there and obtain information and updates due to the communication system break-down.

However, the following ports in south to north order have reportedly been all seriously damaged; Kashima, Hitachinaka, Hitachi, Onahama, Soma, Sendai, Shiogama, Ishinomaki, Kesennuma, Ofunato, Kamashi, Miyako and Hachinohe. Please find these ports on the attached map. They will not be able to be operational at least months or even years.

All the others ports are working normally but please recheck with us for any particular port concerned.The major steel mills such as Nippon Steel, JFE and Sumitomo Metal are located at ports of Muroran, Kashima, Kimitsu (Kisarazu), Kawasaki, Nagoya, Wakayama, Kakogawa, Mizushima, Fukuyama, Oita, etc. and are not directly affected by the disaster except for Sumitomo Metal terminal at Kashima which has been damaged. Most of the major shipyards are located outside the damaged areas especially southern part of Japan, thus no damage by the earthquakes or tsunami.

The JX Group has suspended the export of petroleum products to meet domestic demand.