Mitsui Mining & Smelting to Expand Copper Foil Output in Malaysia

Mitsui Mining & Smelting announced on Friday the firm expands the output capacity of electrolytic copper foil by 75% in Malaysia. The firm builds new plant with monthly 1,200 tonnes of output capacity for 15 billion yen to make 12 micrometers thick products, for which the firm expects continuous demand growth in Asia. The firm starts operation of the new plant at monthly 700 tonnes level in early 2010 and expands the capacity by April 2011 depending on the market.

The firm builds new plant next to the 90% controlling subsidiary, Mitsui Copper Foil (Malaysia). The subsidiary has monthly 1,600 tonnes of output capacity after expansion finished April 2008.

Mitsui Mining & Smelting has plant with monthly 500 tonnes of output capacity in Saitama, US plant with 450 tonnes capacity and Taiwan plant with 1,700 tonnes capacity. With the new plant in Malaysia, the total capacity increases to 5,500 tonnes.

The firm has 50% share for 12 micrometers foil market in Asia. The firm tries to cover growing demand for cell phone and portable music players along with traditional integrated circuit packaging applications through the expansion.