Mitsui & Co. controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2010
Deepwater Horizon liability
Mitsui’s exploration subsidiary MOEX held a ten percent interest in the Deepwater Horizon well through a subsidiary. Following the explosion and oil spill, MOEX agreed in 2011 to a reported US$1.07 billion settlement with BP concerning related claims.
1914
Siemens–Vickers naval procurement scandal
Mitsui served as Vickers’ Japanese agent in the procurement of the battlecruiser Kongo. Bribery of Japanese naval officers was exposed, and the resulting investigation implicated senior figures connected with the transaction. The affair contributed to the collapse of the Yamamoto cabinet.
Criticism over Russian energy participation
Mitsui has been criticized for retaining interests in Sakhalin-2 and Arctic LNG-2 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Supporters of continued participation emphasize Japan’s energy-security concerns, while critics argue that the interests undermine economic isolation of Russia.