Second Call Opens for FY2026 Logistics Efficiency Program
Overview
On November 2, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism opened the second call for applications for the Logistics Efficiency Promotion Program (subsidy program), aiming to build a sustainable logistics system by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and streamlining distribution operations. For projects based on the Freight Vehicle Relay Transport Implementation Plan, newly established under the amended Logistics Efficiency Act, eligible costs now include plan preparation expenses and first-year operating expenses for certified projects. Applications must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on November 19, 2026. Certification of eligible projects is scheduled for around late December.
Key points
- The second call opened on November 2, 2026, and applications must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on November 19, 2026.
- The budget is 24.7 million yen.
- The total subsidy cap for plan preparation projects is 5 million yen.
- The total subsidy cap for various promotion and operations projects is 10 million yen.
Overview
The program aims to build a sustainable logistics system by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and streamlining distribution operations.
In the second call, plan preparation expenses and first-year operating expenses for certified projects were added as eligible costs for freight vehicle relay transport projects based on the Freight Vehicle Relay Transport Implementation Plan, newly established under the amended Logistics Efficiency Act.
Details
Eligible projects include research and preparation of comprehensive efficiency plans under the Logistics Efficiency Act and projects implemented after certification (modal shift, consolidation of trunk transport, last-mile delivery efficiency, and relay transport), as well as research and preparation of Freight Vehicle Relay Transport Implementation Plans and projects implemented after certification. Eligible applicants are councils comprising shippers, logistics operators, and other logistics stakeholders.
For plan preparation projects under comprehensive efficiency plans and relay transport implementation plans, the total cap is 5 million yen, combining a fixed amount capped at 2 million yen and up to one half of costs capped at 3 million yen. For other promotion and operations projects, the total cap is 10 million yen, combining up to one half of costs capped at 5 million yen and up to two thirds capped at 5 million yen. The additional allocation in the latter category covers plans to introduce labor-saving and automated equipment and operations using such equipment, but excludes relay transport implementation plan preparation projects and freight vehicle relay transport projects.
Application forms and other documents must be submitted to the Regional Transport Bureau or other office with jurisdiction over the primary region of the project plan. The grant guidelines, implementation guide, and application guidelines are posted on the program website. Certification (grant decision) is scheduled for around late December.
The eligible period for plan preparation projects runs from the grant decision date through the end of February 2027. For projects implemented after certification, the period runs from the later of the plan certification date or grant decision date through the end of that month.