What specific production units is Asahi Kasei closing or converting in Japan, and which products are affected?

Asahi Kasei is closing production of styrene monomer, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at its Mizushima Plant; shutting down the 200,000-ton-per-year acrylonitrile production line at its Yonezawa Island Plant; converting its 50,000-ton-per-year methacrylonitrile production line to enable co-production of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile; and discontinuing its 3,000-ton-per-year polycarbonate diol unit at the Mizushima Plant.

What is the stated strategic rationale behind Asahi Kasei’s domestic production closures and restructuring?

The measures aim to exit business areas with persistently low profitability and restructure the global petrochemical supply chain, with completion targeted before fiscal year 2030; this aligns with Asahi Kasei’s broader structural reform under its 'Medium-Term Management Plan 2027', which prioritizes resource allocation toward core growth domains—pharmaceuticals, critical care, residential construction, and electronics—while improving capital efficiency and investment returns.

Asahi Kasei to Close Part of Domestic Production Units in Japan

May 15, 2026

Asahi Kasei announced plans to close production units for styrene monomer, polyethylene, and acrylonitrile in Japan to exit low-profit sectors and restructure its petrochemical supply chain by FY2030.

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Asahi Kasei to Close Part of Domestic Production Units in Japan

Asahi Kasei to Close Part of Domestic Production Units in Japan

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