Mitsui Chemicals: Boosting Breathable Film Production in Thailand

17 Nov 2015, 23:00 PM EST

– Strengthening hygienic materials business to respond to growing demand
–

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (TOKYO:4183) (President & CEO: Tsutomu Tannowa)
announced the augmentation of manufacturing facilities for breathable
films at its wholly-owned Mitsui Hygiene Materials (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(President: Hiroshi Ishii, “MHM”), a manufacturer and distributor of
non-wovens and breathable films for use in premium diapers, to cope with
growing demands throughout East and Southeast Asia.

The augmentation will bolster growth and expansion of healthcare
materials, along with our mobility and food & packaging businesses as
growth pillars. One of the major products in our healthcare domain is
hygienic materials. In line with relocation and overseas expansion of
premium diaper manufacturers, we aim to expand our business in
performance-driven hygienic materials by enhancing our supply
capabilities throughout East and Southeast Asia.

Inbound and export (mainly China) demand for Japan-made premium baby
diapers has expanded rapidly. In addition, premium disposal diapers
needs in Southeast Asia have grown significantly and the market boom is
expected to continue.

Our Group’s breathable film is been widely recognized by East and
Southeastern manufacturers for its excellent performance and good
printability, both important requirements for premium diapers, and as a
result has shown healthy sales growth.

We will continue to respond to growing demands for performance driven
breathable films by bolstering our production facilities to improve
quality and cost competitiveness as the leading provider in East and
Southeast Asia while strengthening and expanding our business.


Outline of MHM and facility expansion
1. Product:		ESPOIR^TM (breathable film for use in premium diapers)
2. Company name:		Mitsui Hygiene Materials (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
3. Location:		Eastern Seaboard Industrial Area, Rayong Province, Thailand
4. Business:		Manufacturing and sales of non-wovens and breathable films
5. Establishment:		August 2001
6. Capital:		1,310 million bahts (Mitsui Chemicals 100%)
7. Capacity expansion:		4,200 tons/annual (current capacity 6,700 tons/annual; total after augmentation 10,900 tons/annual）
8. Schedule:		Construction starts: November 2015
		Completion date: November 2016
		Commercial operation: January 2017

About Mitsui
Chemicals (Tokyo: 4183, ISIN: JP3888300005)
Mitsui
Chemicals’ roots can be traced back to 1912 when it began producing raw
material for chemical fertilizers from coal gas byproducts, the first
company in Japan to do so. This undertaking significantly contributed to
increasing agricultural productivity, a major social issue at the time.
Later, the company evolved its technology from coal chemicals to gas
chemicals, and in 1958 it built Japan’s first petrochemical complex and
so provided impetus to Japan’s industrial sector. Today, the company
boasts many world-class products with sales standing at 1,550 billion
yen and with over 135 companies in 27 countries. Its business portfolio
includes environment-friendly materials for next-generation mobility,
healthcare services to realize health and happiness in an ageing
society, packaging that ensures the reliability and safety of food
products, agrochemicals that contribute to increased production of food,
electronic materials, and environment-friendly materials for the energy
sector.
Mitsui Chemicals will continue to contribute to solving
social challenges with its state-of-the-art technology and by “Creating
New Customer Value through Innovation”.
More information can
be found at http://www.mitsuichem.com/index.htm