What Nichirin does

Nichirin (株式会社日輪) is a privately held Japanese chemical-product logistics company founded in 1972 and headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It specializes in tank-lorry transport of liquid chemicals (plastic raw materials, inks, lubricants) across Japan via 13 land-transport bases operated through 14 wholly-owned regional subsidiaries, complemented by a rail-based intermodal service (modal shift) using JR Freight, international ISO tank/container logistics for Korea, Taiwan and (since December 2021) China, and a tank terminal in the Hanshin industrial zone (Himeji, Hyogo). Operating technology centers on a centralized dispatch and order-management system at Tokyo HQ that links all subsidiaries, a nationwide in-house cleaning-network system enabling spot requests and return-load optimization, an EDI order/receiving infrastructure, and a safety management system aligned with the European CEFIC SQAS-Road assessment and a proprietary driver safety qualification system. The group is vertically integrated: subsidiary Sanmashi designs, builds and maintains tank lorries and trailers, while Nichicon (relocated to Ibaraki City, Osaka in November 2022) manufactures Jabsco rotary/impeller pumps and plant equipment. The company also sells used ISO tank containers and provides statutory container inspections.

Revenue is generated through five direct-B2B streams (transport fees, railway transport fees, container leasing/sales/rental and international forwarding, tank-terminal managed storage, and hardware/manufacturing sales), all contracted directly with enterprise chemical manufacturers and import/export traders via dedicated in-house sales departments. Go-to-market is exclusively direct (department-specific contact forms, phone/fax, no public pricing), with recruitment marketing through Mynavi and Rikunabi for both office hires and lorry drivers. All operations are based in Japan; selected international activity is conducted through the Hengcheng partnership. No revenue, headcount, or ownership figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Nichirin

Legal name

株式会社日輪

Website

https://nichirin-group.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nichirin (株式会社日輪) is a private Tokyo-based Japanese logistics group, founded 1972, that specializes in tank-lorry transport of liquid chemicals across Japan for enterprise chemical manufacturers, complemented by railway intermodal, international ISO tank container logistics, a Himeji tank terminal, and in-house vehicle manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Logistics Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Warehousing and Storage (493), Rail Transportation (48211), Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (336)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical & Petrochemical Tanker Transport (TLADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemical Tank Farms & Bulk Liquid Chemical Storage (TLALAHAH), Bulk Transloading & Intermodal Bulk Transfer Facilities (Rail/Truck/Conveyor/Barge) (TLAHABAN)

Keywords

• Chemical logistics services
• Tank lorry transport
• Liquid chemical shipping
• Intermodal rail transport
• ISO tank container leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Transport Services (運輸事業): Tank lorry transportation of liquid chemical products. Core business providing domestic land transport for liquid chemicals across Japan via a nationwide network of group subsidiaries.
2. Railway Transport Services (通運事業): JR Freight utilization (railway transport) for liquid chemical products, providing intermodal combined transport (modal shift) as an environmentally conscious transport solution.
3. Container and International Logistics (コンテナ国際物流): International tank container (ISO tank container/IBC container) leasing, sales, rental, and international transport (combined transport) services. Includes used ISO tank container sales and statutory container inspections/maintenance.
4. Tank Terminal Services (タンクターミナル事業): Storage facilities for liquid chemical products. Located in the Hanshin Industrial Zone (Himeji, Hyogo), one of Japan's three major industrial zones, serving as storage and loading/unloading hubs.
5. Manufacturing and Production (製造・生産): Design, manufacturing, and maintenance of tank lorries and trailers through group company Sanmashi (㈱サンマシ). Also handles Jabsco rotary pumps and impeller pumps and plant equipment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Nichirin operates specialized transport of liquid chemical products across Japan using a nationwide network of tank lorries, intermodal rail transport, ISO tank container logistics, and tank terminal storage. The company also designs, manufactures, and maintains tank lorries through subsidiary Sanmashi, and sells/leases ISO tank containers for international combined transport with China, Korea, and Taiwan.

Product overview

Nichirin Group operates as a chemical product logistics company with five main business departments: Transportation (tank lorries and land transport), Railway (intermodal transport combining road and rail), Container International Logistics (ISO tank containers for international transport), Tank Terminal (storage facilities in the Hanshin industrial zone), and Manufacturing (tank lorry design, construction, and maintenance, including jabsco pumps and plant equipment). The group comprises multiple affiliated transport companies across Japan providing localized services, with nationwide coverage for chemical transport and specialized cleaning services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportation Business (運輸事業部門)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hengcheng International Supply Chain Co., Ltd. (恒成物流)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Nichirin entered a partnership with Hengcheng International Supply Chain Co., Ltd., headquartered in Qingdao, China, starting December 2021. The partnership expands Nichirin's international logistics network for container transport services to and from China.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Kuehne + Nagel International AG: Global logistics leader with one of the largest dedicated chemical logistics divisions including tank container operations across Asia. Comparable to Nichirin on ISO container leasing and multimodal liquid chemical freight, but with far broader geographic reach.
• Nippon Express Holdings, Inc. Japan's largest logistics group offering truck transport, rail forwarding, and warehousing with chemicals as a major vertical. Operates much broader than Nichirin but overlaps directly on tank lorry chemical freight, intermodal, and large-customer contracts.
• Logisteed Holdings, Ltd. (formerly Hitachi Transport System): Japanese 3PL with chemical logistics, freight forwarding, and automotive/adjustment capabilities within a much broader portfolio. Comparable on Japan-domestic trucking, terminal storage, and ISO container services that intersect with Nichirin's offerings.
• Kintetsu World Express, Inc. (Kintetsu Logistics): Major Japanese-origin international logistics company with freight forwarding, contract logistics, and a chemical logistics arm. Competes with Nichirin primarily on international tank container moves, but with broader global reach.
• DHL Supply Chain (Deutsche Post DHL Group): Largest global contract logistics provider operating across road, rail, and ocean transport with chemical vertical and container yard services. Competes for the same Japanese and multinational chemical accounts Nichirin serves, but as part of a globally diversified portfolio.

Emerging players

• CEVA Logistics SA: Global 3PL with a specialized chemical logistics offering (CEVA ForC) and growing presence in Asia. Overlaps with Nichirin on contract tank container and chemical freight operations but at a smaller scale and with broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd. Japanese logistics group with substantial chemical logistics operations including tank transport, warehousing, and ISO container handling. Operates a comparable specialized chemical freight arm with multimodal capabilities similar to Nichirin.
• Maruzen Logistics Co., Ltd. (Maruzen Chemical Transport Group): Japanese specialized liquid chemical freight forwarder with tank lorry operations and tank terminal assets closely aligned with Nichirin's core business. Both groups serve Japanese chemical manufacturers with specialized ISO containers, tank lorries, and terminal services.

Regional players

• Sinotrans Limited: China-based state-linked logistics platform with substantial chemical freight forwarding and tank container operations across China and into Asia-Pacific. Comparable to Nichirin's international container logistics arm on China export/import flows, but on a different geography.
• Dimerco Express Group: Taiwan-headquartered specialist in intra-Asia logistics with chemical vertical capabilities and tank container handling. Overlaps with Nichirin's Taiwan-focused international container flows but primarily serves cross-Strait logistics corridors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nichirin