Santoku Shipping Group is one of Japan's leading privately-owned tonnage suppliers, but it takes a distinctly different, and more conservative, strategy than its rivals.

Similar to compatriots Nisshin Shipping and Nissen Kaiun, Osaka-based Santoku has taken advantage of the low shipbuilding prices in recent years to expand its fleet.

However, Santoku — also known as Santoku Senpaku — will only book newbuilding orders against charter employment, unlike its rivals.