Japanese companies expand spunbonded nonwovens production capacity in Asian markets

Due to the increasing demand for spunbonds in China and Southeast Asia, a number of Japanese nonwoven fabric manufacturers have announced plans to increase production and increase their domestic and overseas production capacity. In 2011, Toray, Mitsui Chemicals, Asahi Kasei and Chiso had a total production capacity of 180,000 tons, which is expected to reach 250,000 tons by the end of 2012, an increase of 41.7%.

Mitsui Chemicals will expand its production capacity in Japan, while Toray, Asahi Kasei and Chiso will expand the capacity of existing plants and plan to establish new factories in China and Thailand. It is estimated that at the end of 2012, the domestic production capacity in Japan will increase from 62,000 tons to 72,000 tons, the production capacity in Thailand will increase from 30,000 tons to 50,000 tons, the production capacity in China will increase from 38,000 tons to 78,000 tons, and the production capacity in South Korea will maintain 50,000 tons. Tons of change.

Toray does not produce PP spunbond nonwovens in Japan. The factories are located in China and South Korea. The company's production capacity in China has increased from 18,000 tons to 38,000 tons currently, and it is planned to increase production capacity by July 2012. 20,000 tons, reaching 78,000 tons. Toray has no plans to expand its production capacity in Korea.

Mitsui Chemicals plans to establish a production line in Japan, increasing its production capacity from 34,000 tons to 49,000 tons. Mitsui Chemicals currently does not plan to expand its production capacity in China and hopes to meet the expansion needs of the Chinese market through imports from Thailand.

Asahi Kasei currently does not produce spunbonded nonwovens outside Japan. The company plans to invest in a production line with an annual output of 20,000 tons in September 2011 in Thailand. Chisso Corporation is working with Fiberweb to establish a production line with an annual output of 20,000 tons of spunbonded nonwovens in China.