Asahi Trading Inc.

What Asahi Trading Inc. does

Asahi Trading Inc. (朝日貿易株式会社) is a privately held Japanese specialized trading company (shoji shosha) founded in 1968, four years before the 1972 normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations, operating from its headquarters in Akihabara, Tokyo. The company is structured around four sales departments: First Sales (iron and steel export to China), Second Sales (chemicals, paints, and environmental equipment for Chinese industrial and environmental markets), Third Sales (import of Chinese-made industrial products into Japan plus new product development), and Fourth Sales (non-ferrous metals, aluminum products, and trilateral trade among Japan, China, and third countries). Its business model is transaction-based B2B trading with margins derived from price differentials and volume throughput rather than recurring fees or licenses.

The company's product portfolio spans stainless steel casing tubes, Chinese-made grinding wheels, hot die steel produced via the ESR (Electroslag Remelting) process under exclusive Japanese distribution rights, planetary reducer gearboxes (also exclusive Japan agent), used forklifts under a licensed secondhand goods dealer permit, polyurea resin coatings for the China market, biodegradable agricultural mulch films, and a small calligraphy ink coagulant line. Strategic assets include a 10% minority stake in the Yantai Tiezhongbao Steel Processing joint venture alongside CIMC, Baosteel, Nippon Steel, and Nippon Steel Materials, targeting jack-up rig and marine structure manufacturers.

Revenue grew from approximately 150 billion yen in FY2020 to 631 billion yen in FY March 2025, a roughly 4x expansion over five years, with the company crossing the 600 billion yen threshold for the first time in its history. The customer base is concentrated among Japanese steel majors (Nippon Steel group, Mitsubishi Materials, Mitsui Metal Mining), Japanese general trading houses, and Chinese state-owned enterprises (CITIC, Baosteel, CIMC). Under President Masayuki Abe since August 2010, the company operates with 11-50 employees and maintains trilingual (Japanese, Chinese, English) web presence, with a minor external investment from Japan Israel Business Investment (投資育成株式会社) following a February 2014 third-party share allocation.

Name

Asahi Trading Inc.

Legal name

朝陽貿易株式会社

Website

https://asahitrading.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Asahi Trading Inc. (朝日貿易株式会社) is a privately held Japan-China specialized trading company (shoji shosha) founded in 1968, operating four sales departments covering steel exports, chemicals/environmental equipment, Chinese-made imports, and aluminum/trilateral trade between Japan, China, and third countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Steel products export to China: Core revenue stream: exporting Japanese and third-country steel products (including Chinese imports re-exported) to Chinese manufacturers and trading partners. Volume-driven trading with price differentials as margin.
2. Chemicals and environmental equipment export: Export of paints, coatings, industrial chemicals, and environmental equipment to China, contributing to industrial development and environmental protection markets.
3. Aluminum products and third-country trade: Non-ferrous metals (aluminum) trading including trilateral trade among Japan, China, and third countries.
4. Imported products (machinery, industrial components): Import and distribution of Chinese-manufactured industrial products including gearboxes, grinding wheels, stainless steel casing tubes, hot die steel, and used forklifts into Japan and other markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Asahi Trading is a specialized Japan-China trading company (shoji shosha) that exports steel products, chemicals, and environmental equipment to Chinese industrial buyers, and imports Chinese-made industrial products (gearboxes, grinding wheels, hot die steel, used forklifts, stainless steel casing tubes) for distribution in Japan. It also facilitates trilateral trade in aluminum and non-ferrous metals, and holds exclusive Japanese sales rights for select Chinese manufacturers.

Product overview

Asahi Trading Inc. is a specialized Japan-China trading company with four core business divisions operating under a unified corporate structure. The First Sales Department handles iron and steel products export, the Second Sales Department manages chemical products and environmental equipment, the Third Sales Department focuses on import and new product development, and the Fourth Sales Department handles aluminum products and trilateral trade. The company offers a diverse portfolio including stainless steel casing tubes, Chinese-made grinding wheels, hot die steel (ESR method), gearboxes, used forklifts, polyurea resin coatings, and biodegradable agricultural films. As a future-oriented China-specialized trading company, Asahi Trading connects Japanese and Chinese markets while expanding globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stainless Steel Casing Tubes SUS304 stainless steel tubes available in sizes from 4.6mm to 12mm inner diameter, used for protecting electric wires, optical fibers, and shower hoses. Minimum order 1,000m. Targeted at industrial buyers and cable manufacturers.
• Chinese-Made General Grinding Wheels General grinding wheels manufactured in China including resin cut-off wheels, taper wheels, crankshaft wheels, and steel ball grinding wheels, offered at competitive pricing to Japanese industrial buyers.
• Used Forklift Trading Business Used forklifts (battery-powered and engine-powered) offered for domestic sales in Japan and global export. Asahi Trading holds a secondhand goods dealer license (Permit No. 301031505119).
• Chinese-Made Hot Die Steel (ESR Method) High-purity hot die steel imported from Tianjin Gangyan Haide Technology using the electroslag remelting (ESR) process. Asahi Trading holds exclusive Japan sales rights since October 2017, priced below standard SKD61 grade for Japanese tooling manufacturers.
• Chinese-Made Gearboxes (Planetary Reducers) Gearboxes and planetary reducers from Jiangxi Ruidding Precision Transmission Co., Ltd., distributed in Japan with Japanese quality control oversight. Introduced at the 21st Mechanical Components Technology Exhibition (June 2017).
• Kiyomaru-kun Calligraphy Ink Coagulant Ink coagulant for calligraphy brush rinse water. Separates ink wastewater into solid ink blocks and clean water, reducing environmental burden at calligraphy studios, schools, and educational institutions.
• Polyurea Resin Coatings Waterproof and physically resistant polyurea resin coatings from Rhino Linings (USA) distributed to the China market through Asahi Trading's investment in Rhino Japan. Used for waterproofing and protective coating applications.
• Biodegradable Mulch Film Mitsubishi Chemical biodegradable mulch film for agricultural use, introduced with Hunan Agricultural Academy to address white pollution from polyethylene film residue in Chinese farmland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue reached 631 billion yen in FY March 2025, first time exceeding 600 billion yen
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tianjin Gangyan Haide Technology Co., Ltd. (天津鋼研海徳科技有限公司)coreTechnology or Integration · 18 October 2017Subsidiary of China Iron and Steel Research Group. Acquired exclusive sales rights in Japan for their high-purity hot die steel produced using ESR (Electroslag Remelting) technology. Products priced below standard SKD61 grade. 60+ years of smelting technology expertise.
• Eisei Tsusho (株)永星通商)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2017Trading partner engaged in charcoal exports from Laos to Japan. Asahi Trading President Abe participated in a commemorative tree-planting festival in Bolikhamxay Province, Laos, together with Eisei Tsusho representatives. Joint effort in sustainable forestry and forest resource preservation.
• Rhino Japan (ライノジャパン)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 March 2017Coating materials manufacturer in which Asahi Trading has invested. Facilitated visit by US parent Rhino Linings Corporation's President Gagnon and International Sales Manager Henningsen. Asahi Trading collaborates on polyurea resin coating expansion to China market, leveraging local knowledge, logistics, negotiation, and payment functions.
• China CO2-Free Hydrogen Society Development Strategy Meeting (CFHE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2016Strategic initiative co-founded with Guangdong Xiaolan Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and other Japanese and Chinese companies. Aims to establish hydrogen social infrastructure in China, including hydrogen stations and hydrogen supply to buildings and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV).
• Hunan Xiangjiang Kansai Coatings Co., Ltd. (湖南湘江関西塗料有限公司)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 201520-year partnership recognized at the company's 20th anniversary ceremony in August 2015. Asahi Trading President Abe received a Special Contribution Award for sharing hardships and growing together over two decades. Asahi Trading continues to contribute to Japan-China friendship through trade activities.
• Hunan Agricultural Academy (湖南省農業科学院)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2015Partner in agricultural environmental projects. Asahi Trading introduced Mitsubishi Chemical's biodegradable mulch film for testing in tobacco and chili pepper fields in Hunan Province. The Academy, led by Dr. Yuan Longping (Father of Hybrid Rice), also discussed cold chain distribution from farm to consumer.
• Yantai Tiezhongbao Steel Processing Co., Ltd. (煙台鉄中宝鉄鋼加工有限公司 / NCBC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2014Joint venture for thick plate processing (slitting/welding) in Yantai, Shandong Province, China. Asahi Trading invested 10% alongside Nippon Steel (10%), Nippon Steel Materials (5%), with CIMC holding majority stake. Targets jack-up rig and marine structure manufacturers. Established January 2014. Asahi Trading's President Abe and Director Okuno visited the facility in September 2014.
• CIMC (China International Marine Containers / 中国国際海運集装箱)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Major Chinese container manufacturer and majority shareholder (over 50%) in the Yantai Tiezhongbao joint venture. Core partner in marine structure and thick plate processing business.
• Nippon Steel / Nippon Steel Materials (新日鉄住金, 日鉄住金物産)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Japanese co-investors in Yantai joint venture. Nippon Steel invested 10%, Nippon Steel Materials invested 5%, alongside Asahi Trading's 10% and CIMC's majority stake.
• Baosteel Group (宝鋼)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Baosteel Group's trading subsidiary co-invested in the Yantai thick plate processing joint venture with CIMC and Japanese partners.
• China National Steel Group (中鋼集団)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2013Major Chinese state-owned steel enterprise. Asahi Trading President Abe and management team visited CITIC's Beijing headquarters and CITIC Shanghai Steel Processing subsidiary in November 2013 to discuss multi-faceted cooperation areas. CITIC Vice President Zhang Jinghua and CITIC Shanghai General Manager Zhang Yu met with the delegation.
• CITIC Shanghai Steel Processing Co., Ltd. (中鋼上海鋼材加工有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2013Subsidiary of China National Steel Group (CITIC) based in Shanghai. Visited by Asahi Trading President Abe in November 2013 as part of the management delegation to discuss cooperation areas.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Metal One Corporation: Joint venture between Mitsubishi and Sojitz focused on steel trading both domestically and with overseas markets including China. Direct competitor in cross-border steel intermediation with similar customer base among Japanese mills.
• JFE Shoji Trade Corporation: Trading arm of JFE Steel handling domestic and international steel distribution. Direct peer in Japan-China steel flows, particularly in processed steel products for industrial buyers.
• Meiwa Co., Ltd. Specialized Japanese industrial trading company dealing in steel products, chemicals, and machinery exports. Closely comparable in size, product mix, and Japan-Asia trade focus.

Regional players

• Nomura Trading Co., Ltd. Japanese specialized trading company handling steel, machinery, and industrial products. Comparable in business model as a smaller specialized intermediary, though less concentrated on China trade.
• Nishikawa Trading Co., Ltd. Specialized Japanese trading company focused on iron and steel exports. Closest direct analog to Asahi in business model (steel-focused shoji shosha) though smaller in scale and with less Japan-China specialization.
• Toyo Bussan Kaisha, Ltd. Japanese trading company focused on steel products and industrial materials. Similar in structure to Asahi as a mid-sized specialized shoji shosha with cross-border steel flows.
• Nichidai Boeki Co., Ltd. Japanese trading company engaged in steel, industrial chemicals, and machinery exports. Direct peer in business model and product mix, particularly in Asia-focused industrial trade.

Broad incumbents

• Hanwa Co., Ltd. Largest Japan-focused steel trading company with a much broader portfolio (non-ferrous metals, food, machinery). Comparable in steel trading intermediation but operates at materially larger scale and across more product categories.
• Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc. Steel-focused joint venture between Marubeni and ITOCHU, one of the largest steel trading intermediaries globally. Overlaps with Asahi in cross-border steel distribution but at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Chubu Steel Plate Co., Ltd. While primarily a steel manufacturer rather than trader, overlaps with Asahi as a participant in Japan-China plate steel flows through Yantai-type offshore processing arrangements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asahitrading

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Asahi Trading Inc.