Toray will stop producing TPA, a raw material for polyester fibers

Toray recently announced that it will stop producing terephthalic acid (TPA), a raw material for polyester fibers, in Japan in 2026. As part of the company’s overall structural reforms to improve capital efficiency and to cope with the deterioration of profits caused by the equipment enhancement of Chinese companies, Toray will turn to external procurement. With Toray’s withdrawal, TPA will no longer be produced in Japan.

Toray currently only produces TPA in Japan, mainly for its own products such as polyester yarn and film. The company’s Tokai plant in Aichi Prefecture has equipment with an annual production capacity of 165,000 tons, but will stop production in 2026.

The aging of production equipment has also become a problem. Toray has decided to turn to external procurement considering the balance between the maintenance and renewal costs of equipment and the costs required for external procurement. It is reported that there are no problems with the quality of overseas products.

In Japan, Mitsui Chemicals closed its Yamaguchi Prefecture plant that produces high-purity terephthalic acid (PTA) in TPA in 2023 and stopped domestic production. Mitsui Chemicals continues to produce at its Thai subsidiary and sells it in Japan after importing.