Furukawa Circuit Foil to Raise Electrolytic Copper Foil Output in F2009

Furukawa Electric group’s Furukawa Circuit Foil will increase domestic electrolytic copper foil output to monthly 9 million square meters in fiscal 2009 starting April 2009, which is 2 million square meters higher than fiscal 2007. The firm expects the demand for lithium ion battery market, in which the firm has 55% world share. The domestic output was monthly 7.7 million square meters in the first half year, which was 12% higher than same period of 2007. The output increased by 20% for higher functional foil while the commodity grade product was flat. The output for lithium ion battery increased by 30% to 4.5 million square meters. The demand for high functional products keeps firm. The firm is talking with the major users to increase the sales volume by 15% for fiscal 2009. The firm expanded Imaichi East plant in Tochigi, which is main production base for high function products. The plant now operates 40 electrolytic foil facilities compared with former 20 and will add 10 more by March 2009 depending on the market condition. The Taiwanese plant, which makes commodity grade foil, is now operating at monthly 600 tonnes due to slower demand since July while the plant made 100 tonnes or more in January-June period. The firm expects the demand could recover in 2009 and the Taiwanese plant, which expanded the capacity to monthly 860 tonnes, could increase the output.