Repercussions of the bolt shortage are being felt nationwide.
A shortage of bolts used in the construction of high-rises, bridges and other steel-frame structures is delaying building projects nationwide as bolt manufacturers are failing to meet rapidly growing demand in the rush to develop the central area of Tokyo and construct 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games venues.
Though the government has been urgently attempting to address the shortage, the issue is yet to be resolved.
Since around summer last year, there has been a significant shortage of high-strength bolts, which are widely used to connect steel beams in building construction.
Under normal conditions, bolt manufacturers deliver high-strength bolts within 1½ months, but shipments are currently taking about six months, sources said.
Of the 305 companies that responded to a survey conducted in autumn last year by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry on the availability of bolts, 83 percent said the shortage was impacting the duration of construction projects.
The ministries have also considered importing bolts from South Korea, but its production volume is not enough to cover the shortfall in Japan.
As some contractors might have ordered more bolts than required to secure parts, the ministries plan to repeatedly urge contractors to place orders that correspond to their construction plans.
