The Role of 8 Japanese Trading Houses in Water

The eight Japanese trading companies, also known as “sogo shosha”, are Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui Corporation, Hitachi Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Toyota Tsusho, and Sojitz Corporation. Together these firms reported nearly US$600 billion in assets under management in 2023. These companies are global, with positions in key markets geographically, and are a unique group with a number of investments in water. Bluefield President and Podcast Host Reese Tisdale and Bluefield's Senior Analyst Ethan Edwards discuss three major questions surrounding the role of these companies within water: How are Japanese trading houses strategically positioned in the global water market, and what factors contribute to their investments in water-related assets? What role do Japanese trading houses play in driving technological advancements and innovations in water management? What are the notable collaborations between Japanese trading houses and local or international entities in the water sector? "These are massive firms, almost battleships of organizations. They've been at it for so long that they've accumulated a wide network that spans globally. Together, they wield a significant influence across a wide network of industries." --Ethan Edwards, Senior Analyst, Bluefield Research If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven’t already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you’d like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Japanese Trading Companies: Portfolio Strategies and Analysis Global Desalination: Market Trends, Ownership Rankings, and Forecast, 2022–2028 COVID-19 Wastewater Analysis Gains Traction