2025 New Year's Message from President and CEO Yoshihiko Katsukawa

Happy New Year!
At the start of 2025, I would like to share my thoughts with you all, the members of the Kobelco Group.

Looking Back at 2024

Reflecting on 2024, various events are recalled. A strong earthquake occurred on the Noto Peninsula on January 1, and record-breaking torrential rains hit Akita and Yamagata prefectures in July. This taught us how powerful and terrifying natural phenomena can be. I would like to offer my deepest sympathies once again to all those affected.

Meanwhile, there was a lot of good news. At the Paris Olympics, Japan won the most medals ever in Olympic Games held overseas, and the Dodgers won the World Series with Shohei Otani’s historic performance. These sparked tremendous excitement throughout Japan.

The Kobelco Kobe Steelers finished fifth last season, but they are striving hard to win the championship this year. We appreciate your continued support.

Business Environment

There have also been significant changes in the business environment surrounding the Kobelco Group. The most notable developments include the slowdown in the Chinese economy primarily due to real estate downturns, the U.S. presidential election, the sharp decline in EV sales in the European market, and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war. The magnitude of uncertainty is increasing as the global situation undergoes constant change. We must brace ourselves for out-of-the-ordinary situations this year as well.

Medium-Term Management Plan (Fiscal 2024–2026)

Amid this business environment, we announced a new medium-term management plan for the tree-year period from fiscal 2024 to 2026 in May last year, with the goal of transforming into an appealing company. As previously stated, we live in a world of constant change and uncertainty, but I believe that such a business environment could bring business opportunities for the Kobelco Group that possesses diverse businesses and great growth potential.

Under the current Medium-Term Management Plan, we have launched KOBELCO-X that aims to spur the creation of new transformation initiatives by promoting cross-divisional collaboration and integration of various technologies. To achieve this, each of us must think outside the box, engage in active communication, and use our imagination to the fullest, exploring what new value our Group can provide to society. Let’s make this a year of progress toward becoming an appealing company.

My Wishes

Taking this opportunity, I’d like to remind all of you once again that safety and compliance are the cornerstone of our company’s continued existence and take priority over everything else. Without a stable foundation, we cannot achieve the transformation into an appealing company. As we begin the new year, I hope every one of you will take a moment to reflect on your own conduct in order to ensure safety and the adherence to the rules.

Concluding Remarks

The year 2025 is the year of the snake in the Chinese zodiac. It represents a year of flexible development through cycles of rebirth and transformation. I hope that this year will be a successful one for Team Kobelco achieving transformation as we think flexibly and take on bold challenges without fear of failure.

I would like to end my New Year’s greetings by wishing that 2025 will be a prosperous year for all of our Group employees and their families. Please stay safe and healthy.