Mitsubishi Materials to end Johor copper strip work by 2027
- Mitsubishi Materials will stop slitting and selling copper and copper-alloy strips at Ryoshindo Manufacturing in Johor by March 2027.
- Supply will come from its Wakamatsu Plant in Fukushima, Japan.
- It cites market changes and tighter scrap export restrictions in Malaysia.
- Jobs affected and the future of the site were not disclosed.
Which Mitsubishi Materials unit in Johor is closing?
Ryoshindo Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned unit set up in 1995, will stop slitting and selling copper and copper-alloy strips by March 2027.
Why is Mitsubishi Materials ending copper strip work in Malaysia?
It cites changes in the market and competition and tighter restrictions on scrap exports in Malaysia, and wants to concentrate production in Japan.
Where will Mitsubishi Materials supply copper strip from after the closure?
From its Wakamatsu Plant in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
Japan's Mitsubishi Materials Corporation will stop slitting and selling copper and copper-alloy strips at its wholly owned Johor unit, Ryoshindo Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, by March 2027, it said on 28 October 2026. Customers will be supplied from its Wakamatsu Plant in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima, Japan.
The closure
- The unit: set up in 1995 as Mitsubishi Materials' supply base for Southeast Asia. Company databases list it in the Pasir Gudang industrial area; the statement says only "Johor"
- Why: the market and competition have changed, and Malaysia has tightened restrictions on scrap exports. After reviewing its supply network and recycling strategy, the group decided to concentrate production
- What it gains: less stock tied up, and capacity moved to higher-value copper alloys and materials for electric vehicles and data centres
- Cost: Mitsubishi Materials expects no material effect on its results for the year to March 2027. It did not say how many jobs are affected or what happens to the site
The bigger picture
- The group: Mitsubishi Materials makes copper products, cement, metals, electronic components and cutting tools. Its other Malaysian unit, MMC Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in Perak, makes electronic components
- Scrap: recycling scrap from customers is a core part of its copper strategy, and the company names Malaysia's tighter scrap export rules as one reason for the decision
- Mitsubishi Materials — Reorganization of Production Operations in Malaysia to Strengthen Competitiveness of the Copper & Copper Alloy Products Business (28 Oct 2026)
- The Edge Malaysia — Mitsubishi Materials to shut down copper processing ops in Johor (28 Oct 2026)
- Mitsubishi Materials — Group companies
Facts summarised in our own words, with our own analysis added.
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