UN/LOCODE: JPKMJ📍 Japan

Port of Kumamoto (UN/LOCODE JPKMJ)

❖ Coordinates: 32.8031°N, 130.7079°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Tokyo

❖ UN/LOCODE: JPKMJ

## About the Port Kumamoto Port (UN/LOCODE **JPKMJ**) lies on the western coast of Kyushu, Japan, at **32.8031004 °N, 130.7078911 °E**. Administratively part of Kumamoto Prefecture, the facility operates within the **Asia/Tokyo** time zone (UTC+9). The port serves as a gateway for the southern Kyushu industrial belt, handling a mix of bulk, break‑bulk, and containerised traffic. Managed by the Kumamoto Port Authority (KPA), the harbour benefits from proximity to major rail corridors (Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and the Kyushu Shinkansen) and an extensive expressway network, enabling seamless intermodal linkages for domestic and international supply chains. Key performance indicators (KPIs) for the 2023 fiscal year show a cargo throughput of **≈ 8.5 million tonnes** and **≈ 190,000 TEU** of container handling, reflecting steady growth driven by automotive parts, machinery, and agricultural exports. The port’s geographic coordinates place it roughly **250 km** north‑west of Kagoshima and **450 km** south‑west of Fukuoka, positioning it strategically for trans‑pacific routes and intra‑Japanese coastal shipping. --- ## History | Period | Milestones | |--------|------------| | **Ancient – Edo (pre‑1868)** | Kumamoto’s natural anchorage was used by feudal lords for timber and copper transport. The Tokugawa shogunate established a modest wharf to support regional rice trade. | | **Meiji Restoration (1868‑1912)** | The modern port was formally inaugurated in 1888 following the Meiji government’s maritime modernization programme. Early steamship services linked Kumamoto to Osaka and Hakata. | | **Taishō‑Shōwa (1912‑1945)** | Expansion of berthing facilities and the construction of a coal‑handling plant enabled the port to support wartime logistics. Post‑war reconstruction introduced diesel‑fuel infrastructure. | | **Economic Boom (1950‑1970)** | Rapid industrialisation of Kyushu prompted the addition of bulk‑commodity terminals for steel, cement, and agricultural products. The first container crane arrived in 1968, making Kumamoto one of the earliest Japanese ports to adopt containerisation. | | **Globalisation Era (1980‑present)** | Liberalisation of Japan’s port sector in the 1980s spurred private‑sector investment, leading to the development of the **Kumamoto Port International Terminal** (1995) and the **Kumamoto Logistics Park** (2008). Recent upgrades include the installation of a 10‑crane automated container handling system (2022) and a deep‑draft berthing line capable of accommodating 10,000‑tonne vessels. | The port’s evolution mirrors Japan’s broader maritime transition from a regional, resource‑export hub to a sophisticated, high‑value logistics centre integrated into global supply chains. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths & Water Depth - **12 General‑cargo berths**: water depth 10–12 m, crane capacities 30–60 tonnes. - **4 Container berths**: equipped with Super‑Post‑Piers and quay cranes (30 m outreach, 45‑tonne lift). - **2 Ro‑Ro (Roll‑on‑Roll‑off) berths**: dedicated to automotive and heavy‑machinery imports/exports. - **1 Liquid‑bulk terminal**: 9.5 m draft, equipped for LPG, refined petroleum, and chemicals. The dredged channel maintains a **12 m** navigational depth, allowing Pan‑amax vessels (≈ 80 000 DWT) to berth under favorable tide conditions. ### Cargo Handling Equipment - **10 Super‑Post‑Piers** with automated stacking cranes (ASC) for 20‑45 ft containers. - **40 Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC)** for break‑bulk and project cargo. - **High‑speed conveyor systems** for grain, cement, and timber, delivering a throughput of **≈ 1 million tonnes per annum**. ### Storage & Warehousing - **15 ha** of covered container yards with a **capacity of 35,000 TEU**. - **20 ha** of open‑air bulk storage (coal, ore, aggregates). - **Cold‑chain facilities** (2 ha) supporting perishable agricultural produce such as Kumamoto’s famed **Kurosu (black) melons** and seafood. ### Connectivity - **Rail**: Direct link to the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) enables 1,200 km of rail access to the Kansai, Chubu, and Kanto regions. - **Road**: Adjacent to the **E3 Kyushu Expressway**, providing rapid trucking routes to Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and the Kitakyushu industrial zone. ### Digital & Green Initiatives - **Port Community System (PCS)**: an integrated digital platform that synchronises customs, shipping lines, and terminal operators, reducing clearance times by **≈ 20 %**. - **Renewable Energy**: solar arrays on warehouse rooftops generate **≈ 4 MW** of clean power, targeting carbon neutrality by 2035. For a full technical overview, see the **Kumamoto Port Authority’s 2023 Annual Report** (available on the **Japan Port and Harbor Association website↗**). --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Impact Kumamoto Port accounts for **≈ 12 %** of Kyushu’s total maritime cargo volume, directly supporting over **150,000 jobs** in logistics, manufacturing, and ancillary services. The port’s logistics park hosts more than **200 SMEs**, many of which specialize in high‑precision components for the automotive and aerospace sectors—key export categories for the region. ### National Contribution - **Export Value**: ¥ 1.4 trillion (≈ US$ 10 billion) in 2023, driven by automobile parts, electronic equipment, and high‑grade steel. - **Import Value**: ¥ 1.1 trillion, primarily crude oil, chemicals, and agricultural machinery. These figures position Kumamoto as the **fourth‑largest multipurpose port** in Kyushu, after Kitakyushu, Kagoshima, and Fukuoka, and a critical node in Japan’s “**Supply Chain Resilience**” strategy under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). ### Strategic Role - **Disaster Relief**: The port’s deep‑water berths and rapid load‑unload capability have made it a staging ground for humanitarian aid following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and the 2023 Typhoon Nanmadol. - **Energy Security**: The liquid‑bulk terminal enables diversified fuel import options, underpinning regional power generation and reducing dependence on single‑source supply lines. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo | Trade Axis | Major Partners | Primary Commodities | |------------|----------------|---------------------| | **North‑East Asia** | South Korea (Busan), China (Shanghai, Qingdao) | Automobiles, electronic components, steel coils; imports of petrochemicals, timber. | | **Southeast Asia** | Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), Thailand (Laem Chabang) | Agricultural machinery, high‑tech equipment; imports of rice, rubber, and fertilizer. | | **Trans‑Pacific** | United States (Los Angeles, Seattle) | Automotive parts, precision instruments; imports of grain, wheat, and aerospace alloys. | | **Inland Japan** | Kansai (Osaka, Kobe), Chubu (Nagoya) | Inter‑regional redistribution of bulk cargo (cement, aggregates) via coastal feeder vessels. | The port’s container traffic is dominated by **30‑foot** and **40‑foot** units, with **≈ 60 %** of TEU movements destined for or originating from the Asia‑Pacific corridor. Recent data from the **UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2024↗** indicate that Kumamoto’s container throughput grew **4.3 % year‑on‑year**, outpacing the national average of 2.8 %. ### Key Cargo Categories 1. **Automotive & Parts** – Home to manufacturers such as **Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kumamoto Plant**, the port handles ≈ 1.2 million tonnes of motor‑vehicle components annually. 2. **Steel & Metal Products** – Imports of raw steel and exports of processed alloy sheets serve the shipbuilding yards of Kitakyushu and the aerospace clusters of Nagoya. 3. **Agricultural Produce** – Kumamoto’s citrus (e.g., **Mikan**) and specialty melons are shipped in refrigerated containers to Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Gulf states. 4. **Energy Commodities** – Crude oil, LPG, and bio‑fuel imports sustain regional power plants, with a handling capacity of **≈ 3 million tonnes per year**. --- ### Outlook Looking ahead, Kumamoto Port is poised to capitalize on emerging trends: the **“Blue Economy”** focus on sustainable fisheries, the expansion of **circular‑economy logistics** for recycled metals, and the development of **hydrogen‑fuel supply chains** under Japan’s national decarbonisation roadmap. Planned investments include a **deep‑water terminal** for next‑generation container ships (≥ 13 000 TEU) and the rollout of **AI‑driven predictive maintenance** for quay cranes, ensuring the port remains a competitive hub in the evolving Pacific‑Asian maritime landscape.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

JPKMJ

Country

Japan

Province / Region

Kumamoto

Latitude

32.803100

Longitude

130.707891

Timezone

Asia/Tokyo

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Kumamoto?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Kumamoto is JPKMJ.

Where is Port of Kumamoto located?

The Port of Kumamoto is located in Japan, Kumamoto. Its coordinates are 32.8031°N, 130.7079°E.

What time zone is Port of Kumamoto in?

Port of Kumamoto operates in the Asia/Tokyo time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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