Aftermath of Hormuz Blockade: Japanese Automakers on Alert as Nissan Cuts 1,200 Units Following Toyota

Difficulties in Shipping Patrol to the Middle East

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked due to the Iran war, logistics disruptions in the Middle East have become a reality. On March 17, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Nissan Motor Company plans to reduce production by 1,200 units at its Kyushu Fukuoka plant this month. The production cut will affect vehicles other than those that are Nissan's main export models to the Middle East.

According to the report, Nissan Motor Company will reduce output by about 1,200 units at its Kyushu Fukuoka plant this month. The production cut will apply to vehicles other than its main export models for the Middle East. Nikkei explained that, as transport delays for the main export models to the Middle East have led to a shortage of storage space, Nissan is cutting production of models not destined for the Middle East to secure more storage capacity.

Nissan Motor Company logo. Photo by AFP Yonhap News Agency

Nissan's Fukuoka plant produces about 500,000 vehicles annually, including the Serena minivan, and the X-Trail and Rogue sports utility vehicles (SUVs). At a subsidiary plant located at the same site, Nissan also manufactures the Patrol, a large SUV for export to the Middle East.

However, due to the recent situation in the Middle East, Nissan has been unable to ship the Patrol to the region and is storing already-produced Patrol vehicles in Japan. As the Patrol is highly profitable and in strong demand, Nissan is continuing normal production of this model for now, while reducing output of less profitable vehicles to secure additional storage space.

The Middle East remains one of the few promising markets for Nissan, which has been experiencing sluggish sales. Last year, Japan’s new car exports to the Middle East rose by 24.4% year-on-year to approximately 78,000 units, indicating strong performance.

Earlier, it was also reported that Toyota Motor Corporation decided to cut production of 20,000 vehicles for the Middle Eastern market by the end of this month. Last year, Toyota exported about 320,000 vehicles to the Middle East. Honda has also reportedly delayed shipments of some vehicles.

The ongoing logistics disruptions in the Middle East could become another adverse factor for Japan’s auto industry, which has already been hit by US tariff measures. Both Nissan and Honda are projected to post deficits in the 2025 fiscal year.

Donald Trump (left), President of the United States, and Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan, are posing for a commemorative photo before the signing ceremony of the US-Japan trade agreement implementation documents at the Tokyo Motoakasaka State Guest House in October last year. 2025.10.28 Reuters Yonhap News
Photo by Yonhap News

Nikkei reported that the impact of Middle East logistics disruptions "could be prolonged for the automotive industry."

Meanwhile, on March 14 (local time), President Trump expressed hope that "China, France, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, and other countries will send ships to the region (the Strait of Hormuz) so that the Strait of Hormuz will no longer be threatened by a 'completely decapitated' nation." This was interpreted as a de facto request for warships to be dispatched to the Strait of Hormuz. In response, it has been reported that the Japanese government is considering the possibility of sending Self-Defense Forces to protect oil tankers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, in line with US demands.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.