Daio to Construct New Sanitary Napkin Plant in Thailand

Daio Paper, Japan, will invest ¥1.2 billion (approximately $10.5 million) to construct a sanitary napkin plant at its Elleair International (EIT) subsidiary in Rayong, Thailand. Startup of the new plant is set for July 2017.

Ellair International was established at the beginning of 2011 as the Thai base of Daio's Asian operation. The company started production of GOO.N disposable baby diapers in early 2011, and the following December launched production of baby diapers at the plant. In March of this year (2016), EIT started up a wet tissue and wipes line at the Rayong plant and in May began importing Daio sanitary napkins made in Japan for test marketing in Thailand. Executives reportedly expect the sanitary napkin market in Thailand to grow 5% annually.

Also, according to a RISI report, Daio will invest ¥24 billion to restart its idled Kawanoe mill in Ehime prefecture in Japan and erect a tissue paper machine at the site. The unit, which will have a capacity of 4,500 metric tpy, is scheduled to startup in the fall of 2018.