Japan’s Marubeni to up packaging output at Vietnam plant to 400,000 tons

Kraft of Asia Paperboard & Packaging (KOA), a subsidiary of Japan’s Marubeni, is seeking permission to raise its factory’s output to 400,000 tons a year, according to a recent project report.

The figure includes 120,000 tons of grade-A and 280,000 tons of grade-B packaging paper. The firm estimates production would need 450,000 tons of scrap paper as input materials from domestic sources and imported from Japan and other countries.

The firm clarified that the move would help the plant reach 100% capacity, versus 51.4% in 2022 or 205,506 tons and 66.8% in 2023 or 267,197 tons.

The production of grade-A products is a new development as it made no grade-A packaging paper in 2022 and 2023 due to no supply of qualified feedstock.

Covering 15 hectares in Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the factory received its first investment registration certificate in 2018. The total investment is now $316.6 million after several hikes.

In December 2024, Marubeni said it would increase its investment in KOA and then transfer its whole equity in the firm to Meico Management Co., Ltd.

Marubeni is set to conduct the capital increase in January 2025 and then the transfer in February 2025. The move is subject to authorities' approval and other conditions, Marubeni added.