09.11.24
Tokyo, Japan
www.malifematerials.com
2023 Nonwovens Sales: $319 million
Key Personnel
Koichi Yanase, president
Plants
Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Moriyama, Japan; Thailand
Processes
Spunbond, meltblown
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex, Syntex Nano, Airyfa, Eltas, Smash, Precise, Semia, Pulshut, Ecorise
Major Markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials
Established in 2023, Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Materials (MAL) is a joint venture between Mitsui Chemicals and Asahi Kasei. The new nonwovens manufacturer integrates the spunbond and meltblown nonwovens of both companies, with Mitsui Chemicals holding a 60.62% stake and Asahi Kasei holding a 39.38% stake.
MAL produces 132,000 tons/year of PP spunbond nonwovens, 5500 tons/year of PET spunbond nonwovens, 3500 tons/year of nylon spunbond nonwovens, and 2000 tons/year of PET-SMS nonwovens (trade name: Precise). The production capacity of spunbond nonwovens is estimated to be 143,000 tons/year combined, and 2200 tons/year of meltblown nonwovens.
For PP spunbond nonwovens, the company has production facilities in Japan and Thailand, with production capacities of 55,000 tons/year in Japan and 77,000 tons/year in Thailand. The Japanese production company is Sunrex Industry, which was a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals but was transferred to a subsidiary of MAL. The production companies in Thailand are AKST and MHM. AKST is a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei with a production capacity of 47,000 tons/year, and MHM is a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals with a production capacity of 30,000 tons/year. Both AKST and MHM have been transferred to subsidiaries of MAL.
MAL’s sales ratio is approximately 70% for sanitary materials such as diapers and approximately 30% for industrial materials, and the company plans to adjust the ratio of each to 50% by 2030. The company plans to increase sales to ¥60 billion in FY2025 and to ¥100 billion in FY2030. MAL’s main application is diapers, but demand for baby diapers is shrinking in Japan due to the country’s declining birthrate and aging population, and future expansion is unlikely. China is also seeing a decline in demand for baby diapers, while ASEAN and India are increasing but will likely stagnate in the future. The purpose of the integration of Mitsui Chemicals’ and Asahi Kasei’s nonwoven businesses was to implement structural reform to ensure their survival. The company plans to integrate and rationalize the production varieties of nonwoven fabrics for diapers, as well as consolidate and eliminate production facilities to increase production efficiency.
Furthermore, the company aims to strengthen and expand value-added applications in the automotive and electronics industries with nonwoven fabrics made of PET, nylon, polylactic acid, and other materials. The nonwoven businesses of Mitsui Chemicals and Asahi Kasei had a high ratio of diaper applications, which led to stagnation in the business performance of both companies. The growth of Chinese nonwovens manufacturers for diapers has increased competition and future growth in the market is no longer expected. For this reason, the two companies intend to remodel the business for diapers to increase efficiency and further strengthen the industrial materials field to create a more profitable business structure.
www.malifematerials.com
2023 Nonwovens Sales: $319 million
Key Personnel
Koichi Yanase, president
Plants
Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Moriyama, Japan; Thailand
Processes
Spunbond, meltblown
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex, Syntex Nano, Airyfa, Eltas, Smash, Precise, Semia, Pulshut, Ecorise
Major Markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials
Established in 2023, Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Materials (MAL) is a joint venture between Mitsui Chemicals and Asahi Kasei. The new nonwovens manufacturer integrates the spunbond and meltblown nonwovens of both companies, with Mitsui Chemicals holding a 60.62% stake and Asahi Kasei holding a 39.38% stake.
MAL produces 132,000 tons/year of PP spunbond nonwovens, 5500 tons/year of PET spunbond nonwovens, 3500 tons/year of nylon spunbond nonwovens, and 2000 tons/year of PET-SMS nonwovens (trade name: Precise). The production capacity of spunbond nonwovens is estimated to be 143,000 tons/year combined, and 2200 tons/year of meltblown nonwovens.
For PP spunbond nonwovens, the company has production facilities in Japan and Thailand, with production capacities of 55,000 tons/year in Japan and 77,000 tons/year in Thailand. The Japanese production company is Sunrex Industry, which was a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals but was transferred to a subsidiary of MAL. The production companies in Thailand are AKST and MHM. AKST is a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei with a production capacity of 47,000 tons/year, and MHM is a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals with a production capacity of 30,000 tons/year. Both AKST and MHM have been transferred to subsidiaries of MAL.
MAL’s sales ratio is approximately 70% for sanitary materials such as diapers and approximately 30% for industrial materials, and the company plans to adjust the ratio of each to 50% by 2030. The company plans to increase sales to ¥60 billion in FY2025 and to ¥100 billion in FY2030. MAL’s main application is diapers, but demand for baby diapers is shrinking in Japan due to the country’s declining birthrate and aging population, and future expansion is unlikely. China is also seeing a decline in demand for baby diapers, while ASEAN and India are increasing but will likely stagnate in the future. The purpose of the integration of Mitsui Chemicals’ and Asahi Kasei’s nonwoven businesses was to implement structural reform to ensure their survival. The company plans to integrate and rationalize the production varieties of nonwoven fabrics for diapers, as well as consolidate and eliminate production facilities to increase production efficiency.
Furthermore, the company aims to strengthen and expand value-added applications in the automotive and electronics industries with nonwoven fabrics made of PET, nylon, polylactic acid, and other materials. The nonwoven businesses of Mitsui Chemicals and Asahi Kasei had a high ratio of diaper applications, which led to stagnation in the business performance of both companies. The growth of Chinese nonwovens manufacturers for diapers has increased competition and future growth in the market is no longer expected. For this reason, the two companies intend to remodel the business for diapers to increase efficiency and further strengthen the industrial materials field to create a more profitable business structure.
