What is Asahi Kasei's new timeline for starting up its Canadian battery separator plant, and why was it delayed?

Asahi Kasei has delayed the startup of its $1.1 billion lithium-ion battery separator plant in Port Colborne, Ontario, from early 2028 to 2030 — a delay of up to two years — due to the slowdown in North American electric vehicle (EV) production. According to its April 15, 2025 management briefing, the company will decide the actual startup timing by assessing market trends, and until the North American EV market fully develops, it will supply products from Japan and South Korea instead.

How does Asahi Kasei’s delay relate to broader industry developments, particularly Honda’s involvement?

Asahi Kasei’s delay follows Honda Motor Co.’s December 2024 decision to take a 25% stake in the project as part of an $11-billion initiative to build a comprehensive EV value chain in Ontario; Honda itself announced on May 13, 2025, that it was delaying its related plans by approximately two years, citing the same cause — the current slowdown in EV demand.

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