Market Background

Japan Glove Manufacturers Association Publishes 2024 Glove Sales Volumes

According to the 2024 Japanese domestic glove sales volume statistics compiled by the Japan Glove Manufacturers Association, household glove sales reached 73.253 million pairs, down 1% year-on-year, nearly flat. Nitrile gloves alone grew by 14%, but cautious buying due to a sluggish market continued to suppress demand post-COVID. Ultra-thin gloves (excluding medical use) totaled 5.405 billion pieces, up 6% and...

Please subscribe to read the full story.Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Continue Reading

CEMA Publishes Construction Machinery Demand Forecasts for Fiscal 2024 and 2025

The Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) recently released its construction machinery demand forecasts for fiscal 2024 (April 2024-March 2025) and fiscal 2025 (April 2025-March 2026). The forecasts were compiled based on a questionnaire survey conducted in January among 61 construction equipment manufacturers that are regular members of the association. According to the survey, in fiscal 2024, Japanese domestic shipments...

Please subscribe to read the full story.Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Continue Reading

Nitta Posts Financial Results, Sees Opportunity in Semiconductor-related Business

Nitta announced net sales of 88.61 billion yen ($565.29 million), up 0.7% year-on-year; operating income of 4.42 billion yen, down 11.4%; ordinary income of 12,01 billion yen, down 6.9%; and net income of 9.68 billion yen, down 9.2%, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. “Sales were decent, but profits fell sharply due to a slower-than-expected decline in the...

Please subscribe to read the full story.Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Continue Reading

Special Report: Signs of Recovery in Demand for Rubber Sheets

Signs of recovery have emerged in demand for fluorine rubber sheets, which had been in a slump. With the elimination of the oversupply of semiconductors, there has been movement in the production of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which had been undergoing production adjustments, and this has led to an upturn in current demand. Demand for silicone rubber sheets is also increasing...

Please subscribe to read the full story.Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Continue Reading

Review: Japanese Conveyor Belt Market in 2023

According to statistics compiled by the Japan Belting Industry Association, Japanese conveyor belt production in 2023 was 9,073 tons, down 5% from the previous year, marking the second consecutive year of decline and the second year in a row that production has fallen below 10,000 tons. Japanese domestic demand was boosted by an increase in automobile production due to the...

Please subscribe to read the full story.Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Continue Reading

Asahi Kasei Raises Prices of Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomers

Asahi Kasei has raised the prices of styrenic thermoplastic elastomers for shipments from April 1. The price increase is 70 yen ($0.46) or more per kilogram for styrenic thermoplastic elastomers, including Tufprene and Asaprene T, and 120 yen or more per kilogram for hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomers, including S.O.E. and Tuftec. The company said that with the recent sharp rise...

Please subscribe to read the full story.Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Continue Reading