Japanese farm equipment maker plans to relocate capacity in Indonesia

Japanese farm equipment maker Iseki & Co. plans to have Indonesia manufacture 90% of products bound for overseas markets by 2030.

Products of Japanese farm equipment maker Iseki & Co. (Photo: iseki.co.jp)
Products of Japanese farm equipment maker Iseki & Co. (Photo: iseki.co.jp)

Tokyo (VNA) – Japanese farm equipment maker Iseki & Co. plans to have Indonesia manufacture 90% of products bound for overseas markets by 2030.

The plan aims to shift its capacity away from Japan where labour and demand have shrunk steeply in the agricultural sector.

Iseki's plant in Indonesia performs final assembly of tractors and lawnmowers destined for Western countries. Last year, the company expanded the plant's annual capacity 20% to 22,000 units.

The relocation of capacity is around 60% complete, according to asia.nikkei.com.

Iseki has five Japanese production sites capable of making different products at limited volumes to respond to diverse demands. However, the shrinking Japanese market has led to a downturn in factory utilisation, hurting its finances. In July, Iseki announced it will cease production at a plant in Kumamoto prefecture and transfer some production processes to another facility in Ehime prefecture.

Iseki is pushing structural reforms in Japan while consolidating production capacity in Indonesia.

Other Japanese farm machinery makers such as Kubota and Yanmar Holdings are moving forward with overseas strategies.

The business environment in Japan is shrinking. According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, last year, the number of "core" farm workers stood at 1.16 million, which is half the count from 20 years ago.

The Japan Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association said that domestic shipments of farm equipment by value have declined 30% from a decade earlier./.

VNA

See more

Delegates at the event (Photo: kpl.gov.la)

Laos aims for sustainable infrastructure development

Laos' Enabling Environment Roadmap for Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM EE) outlines strategies for the effective management of public infrastructure, including roads, schools, and hospitals, with a focus on resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Strong earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia (Photo: scienceexchange.caltech.edu)

Strong earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake occurred at 5:15 pm, with its epicenter located 93 km northeast of Indonesia's Maluku Barat Daya district and a hypocenter at a depth of 157 km beneath the seabed. No tsunami warning has been issued.

Rescue forces are racing against time to search for victims of the earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Myanmar earthquake: Devastation’s full extend is not clear

Myanmar's state media quoted military government leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as saying the earthquake death toll had reached 2,065, with more than 3,900 injured and some 270 missing. Aid agencies forecast these numbers will rise significantly due to information blackouts in remote areas.

File - Passengers pass through the automatic immigration checkpoint (auto gate) at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, January 3, 2024. (Photo: ANTARA)

Indonesia operates auto gates at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

According to Johanes Fanny Satria Cahya Aprianto, head of the airport's immigration office, immigration services are fully prepared for the surge in passengers. Currently the office has deployed 531 personnel to ensure smooth and efficient immigration processing at the airport.

Rescuers on March 30 search for missing people after the earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

WHO seeks urgent funding for Myanmar after devastating earthquake

In its flash appeal for funds, the WHO said the high numbers of casualties and trauma injuries are at high risk of infection due to limited surgical capacity in the country, while the underlying conditions in Myanmar meant the quake is likely to intensify the risk of diseases.

Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Belgian monarchs’ state visit to open new chapter in bilateral cooperation

As a major player in the region and one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, Vietnam is an indispensable partner for Belgium. The meetings with the various Vietnamese authorities will therefore offer an excellent opportunity to further deepen and enrich this diverse partnership, according the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha. (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)

Cambodia strengthens cross-border crime control

In 2024, Cambodia cracked down 197 cases relating to human trafficking and sexual exploitation, an increase of over 20% compared to the previous year. The authorities identified 523 victims and arrested 273 suspects and sent them to court, including 30 foreigners.