What is the oldest shipping company?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, commonly known as NYK Line, is frequently recognized as one of the oldest and largest shipping and logistics enterprises in the world, tracing its corporate lineage back to the Tsukumo Shokai shipping company established in 1870 by the Tosa domain in Japan. However, historic European maritime enterprises like the French Compagnie des Indes and historic Danish trading companies operating centuries earlier laid foundational maritime roots. NYK Line expanded rapidly through government backing, modernization programs, and international fleet growth, evolving into a global titan of container shipping, bulk carriers, and maritime logistics that continues to navigate international waters today.

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