Physical Internet Realization Council’s Chemicals Working Group Reported the FY 2025 Action Policy
2025.06.25
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
The Chemicals Working Group (Chairman: Professor Yano Yuji, Ryutsu Keizai University) of the Physical Internet Realization Council led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), reported the FY 2025 Action Policy for the establishment of sustainable logistics toward 2030 to the FY 2025 Physical Internet Realization Council (Secretariat: METI and MLIT), held on June 24, 2025.
The Chemicals Working Group includes 81 companies, mostly consignors and logistics providers, one university, the Japan Chemical Industry Association, Japan Petrochemical Industry Association, and the associated divisions of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism. Mitsui Chemicals serves as secretariat together with Mitsubishi Chemical, Tosoh Corporation, and Toray Industries.
For further information, please see the following materials.
Physical Internet Realization Council
Chemicals Working Group
FY 2025 Action Policy Reported at the Physical Internet Realization Council
The Chemicals Working Group (WG) of the Physical Internet Realization Council, composed of 81 chemical manufacturers and associated logistics providers, reported its FY 2025 Action Policy for the Establishment of Sustainable Logistics toward 2030 to the FY 2025 Physical Internet Realization Council (Secretariats: the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI] and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism [MLIT]) held on June 24, 2025.
Almost two years have passed since the Chemicals WG was established and approved in June 2023, and the members increased from 44 to 81 companies. To date, the Chemicals WG announced its voluntary action plan to tackle the “2024 problem in logistics” in December 2023, and the results of the demonstration test of joint logistics (Joint logistics platform using DX) in December 2024.
Based on these activities, the Chemicals WG has decided to focus on “Improvement of business practices” and “Promotion of logistics DX” as two priority measures for FY 2025, in pursuit of further promotion of its initiatives for the “2024 problem in logistics.”
1. Improvement of Business Practices
Regarding the improvement of business practices, following initiatives have been set as priority themes.
- In response to the Act on Advancement of Integration and Streamlining of Distribution Business enacted in April 2025, each member company shall reinforce measures such as the introduction of reservation reception systems.
- In response to the full-scale enforcement of the Act on Advancement of Integration and Streamlining of Distribution Business (April 2026), the Chemicals WG requested that the industry groups of clients ensure freight-on-board and eliminate or reduce the associated work.
- Regarding security measures to be taken during cargo work, the Chemicals WG requested the cooperation of the industry groups of clients and consignees by creating leaflets.
- In addition to promoting palletization in the internal transport and stock point transfer, the Chemicals WG released communications within and outside of the industries that urged consignees to understand palletization at the time of delivery.
- As for joint logistics, the initiatives being considered by each subcommittee by mode of transport and area shall be made specific. The Subcommittee of Railway Transport plans to conduct a joint shuttle service test, using 31-ft containers.
2. Promotion of logistics DX
The results of the demonstration tests conducted in 2024 showed that digital communication using the standard code/message was effective for joint logistics between multiple consignors and logistics providers. Therefore, the Chemicals WG has commenced the following initiatives as the next tasks.
- Consideration of standardizing the joint logistics process
- Consideration of standardizing the message/code
- Investigation and study for the implementation of DX
Based on these initiatives, we will formulate the information standard guidelines for chemicals and the plans for the implementation of digitalization for FY 2026 and thereafter. Regarding the visualization of cargo dynamics, using actual logistics performance data which was also implemented in last year’s demonstration test, we intend to visualize the nationwide cargo dynamics of hazardous materials.
The Chemicals WG will contribute to the achievement of the physical internet in cooperation with related ministries, agencies, industry groups, and others.
■ References
- December 23, 2024: Physical Internet Realization Council’s Chemicals Working Group Runs Demonstration Test to Find Effects of Joint Logistics -Pursuing the creation of a DX-based joint logistics platform-
https://jp.mitsuichemicals.com/content/dam/mitsuichemicals/sites/mci/documents/release/2024/241223_1e.pdf
- June 11, 2024: “Physical Internet Realization Council’s Chemicals Working Group to Conduct Demonstration Test for Joint Logistics in the Kanto–Tokai Region”
https://jp.mitsuichemicals.com/content/dam/mitsuichemicals/sites/mci/documents/release/2024/240611.pdf (Japanese only)
- June 13, 2023: “Establishment of a Chemicals Working Group in the Physical Internet Realization Council”
https://jp.mitsuichemicals.com/content/dam/mitsuichemicals/sites/mci/documents/release/2023/230613e.pdf
