09.08.22
Tokyo, Japan
www.mitsui.co.jp
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $167 million
Key Personnel
Kazuya Kusana, general manager
Plants
Japan, Thailand
Processes
Spunbond, meltblown, needlepunch, thermal bond
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex, Syntex Nano
Major Markets
Hygiene, medical, face masks, filtration, agriculture
The big news at Mitsui Chemicals in 2021 was the divestment of its ownership in Mitsui Chemicals Nonwovens (Tianjin), its Chinese subsidiary to Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven (BTF) Co. The site was opened in 2014 and is capable of making 15,000 tons of spunbond nonwovens per year. Prior to the deal, Mitsui and BTF, a manufacturer of medical and sanitary nonwovens with factories in China and the U.S., had a relationship for more than 15 years. The partnership included outsourced manufacturing of high-performance medical nonwovens.
Without the Chinese subsidiary, Mitsui now operates nonwoven production facilities in Japan and Thailand, which together can make 88,000 of commercial grade spunbond nonwovens—the Thai site also has a 6300 ton pilot line for the development and testing of high performance materials. Additionally, the company operates three meltblown lines and is in the process of adding a fourth line, which will be operational in April 2023 to target media for liquid cartridge filters.
Growth in technical markets like filtration is helping to offset declines in the hygiene market, particularly the baby diaper market, which has been challenged two-fold. The birth rate in China continues to decline, meaning fewer diapers are being used. Additionally, volumes of spunbond materials targeting hygiene applications grew significantly during the coronavirus pandemic for materials like face masks and gowns, which are seeing decreases in demand.
For Mitsui Chemicals' 2020 top company profile, click here.
www.mitsui.co.jp
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $167 million
Key Personnel
Kazuya Kusana, general manager
Plants
Japan, Thailand
Processes
Spunbond, meltblown, needlepunch, thermal bond
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex, Syntex Nano
Major Markets
Hygiene, medical, face masks, filtration, agriculture
The big news at Mitsui Chemicals in 2021 was the divestment of its ownership in Mitsui Chemicals Nonwovens (Tianjin), its Chinese subsidiary to Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven (BTF) Co. The site was opened in 2014 and is capable of making 15,000 tons of spunbond nonwovens per year. Prior to the deal, Mitsui and BTF, a manufacturer of medical and sanitary nonwovens with factories in China and the U.S., had a relationship for more than 15 years. The partnership included outsourced manufacturing of high-performance medical nonwovens.
Without the Chinese subsidiary, Mitsui now operates nonwoven production facilities in Japan and Thailand, which together can make 88,000 of commercial grade spunbond nonwovens—the Thai site also has a 6300 ton pilot line for the development and testing of high performance materials. Additionally, the company operates three meltblown lines and is in the process of adding a fourth line, which will be operational in April 2023 to target media for liquid cartridge filters.
Growth in technical markets like filtration is helping to offset declines in the hygiene market, particularly the baby diaper market, which has been challenged two-fold. The birth rate in China continues to decline, meaning fewer diapers are being used. Additionally, volumes of spunbond materials targeting hygiene applications grew significantly during the coronavirus pandemic for materials like face masks and gowns, which are seeing decreases in demand.
For Mitsui Chemicals' 2020 top company profile, click here.