Japan's shipbuilding companies are increasing production capacity amid robust demand caused by increased sea transport and strong growth in China and India, officials said today. Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. will restart production at one plant and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corp. is spending millions of dollars to expand its facilities, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co. is also ramping up investment to churn out more ships, reported the Associated Press. In October, Ishikawajima-Harima's plans to resume building cargo ships at a plant in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi, company spokesman Keiichi Sakamoto said. It will be the first time the plant has turned out a ship since 1996, when production was stopped, and the first increase in the company's output capacity in 30 years, he said. -- SPA
