JX Nippon Mining & Metals to Shift 2 Cu Foil Lines to Philippines

JX Nippon Mining & Metals will move production lines of high-function electrolytic copper foil from Shirogane plant in Ibaraki, Japan to Philippine plant partially. There are the five lines in Shirogane plant presently. The firm plans to transfer the two lines to Philippine plant step by step and raise Philippine plant’s output capacity of electrolytic copper foil by 20%. The firm prepares for the unpredictable operation suspension of the domestic plant and keeps the stable supply to Japanese electrolytic copper foil customers.

Shirogane plant produces high-function electrolytic copper foil, mainly thin copper foil with 18 micrometers or 10 micrometers thick. The output capacity is 600 tonnes per month. The products are mainly supplied to domestic customers such as printed circuit board manufacturers as well as lithium ion battery makers. Philippine plant majorly produces common grade electrolytic copper foil with 35 micrometers thick, mainly supplied to Asian customers. The output capacity is 1,000 tonnes per month.

JX Nippon Mining & Metals plans to start high-function electrolytic copper foil production in the Philippines in addition to Shirogane plant. Philippine plant’s output capacity will reach 1,200 tonnes per month. Shirogane plant’s output capacity will lower by 200 tonnes to 400 tonnes per month. Shirogane plant had been damaged and suspended after Japan Earthquake. Now the three lines have returned to operation. The firm plans to shift the rest two lines to the Philippines.

JX Nippon Mining & Metals lowers a risk of the supply stoppage in sudden disasters and other unpredictable situations. The firm can also take advantage of strong yen trend by exporting electrolytic copper foil from the Philippines to Japan.