Mitsui Mining & Smelting Mulls ITO Target Production in China

Mitsui Mining & Smelting started study to establish Chinese production base of transparent electrode material for liquid crystal panel. The firm expects the production base is needed to serve Chinese growing demand when Chinese, South Korean and Taiwanese major panel makers expand the production capacity. The firm tries to establish the base in 2-3 years depending on the study.

The firm is major supplier of indium tin oxide target material for transparent electrode of liquid crystal panel. The firm has integrated production base from indium oxide powder to process of bonding target material and backing plate in Japan. The firm has downstream operation of target in Taiwan and South Korea. The firm apparently studies downstream operation in China at the first stage.

The firm enjoys the historical high level shipment for the material since September when domestic liquid crystal panel makers launched new production lines. The demand is also strong in Taiwan and South Korea. The firm tries to increase the IT target material selling price for contract users to cover higher indium cost.