According to reports on the Nikkei, General purpose carbon fibre used in sports equipment like golf club shafts, tennis rackets bikes is now trading at $25 per kilogram on the global market, thats 15–25% higher than its lowest price, set back in 2012

Carbon-fibre used for general purpose manufacturing was often used in high end sports utility bikes, but now is being used in smaller bikes and more often. As for industrial use, the demand growing for carbon fibre among makers of pressure vessels, as the shale gas market grows in the United States.

Discounting for carbon fibre used in the general consumer market, generally regarded as high quality and made by companies in Japan is on the decline with makers directly competing with Taiwanese and Korean rivals less and less.

The prices for high end carbon used in the manufacture of aerospace and automotive parts and relatively flat, as end users have long-term contracts with the big carbon fibre manufacturers. Demand for carbon fibre used by the aerospace industry accounts for 20% of the overall demand.

Prices of general-purpose carbon declined on the global market between 2011 and 2013, due to strong overseas competition, since then the prices have risen although the price level for general purpose carbon is “still so low that makers are unable to make sufficient profits,” according to a Teijin representative.

Some makers have said they wound not want to throw cold water on the momentum for the wider use of carbon by raising prices unnecessarily with Japanese fibre makers hoping to attract demand from end users by using carbon as an alternative to metals and other materials. The environment for export is improving because of the weaker yen. Some market watchers, therefore, expect that carbon fibre prices may not rise steadily.

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According to multiple Asian news sources the company want to better utilise its advantages in carbon fibres for use in advanced technology markets, such as offshore pipes and components for satellites.

The company plans to integrate the carbon fibre business of subsidiary Mitsubishi Plastics, who manufacture heat-resistant carbon products into Mitsubishi Rayon, currently one of the largest producers of carbon in the world.

Industry insiders say that Mitsubishi is playing a bit of catch up with the other top manufacturers, in the last few years. Both Toray and Teijin have secured close ties with major aerospace and automotive manufacturers, while newcomers in other countries, such as South Korea have also improved their technological capabilities.

Its hoped that this integration of businesses will better utilise the company’s capabilities, increasing the flow of knowledge and innovation between both research and development teams.

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The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings unit will take a 51% stake for around $29 million including the German company’s debt. It will remove the company executives but keep Wethje’s name and leadership.

Wethje supplies carbon fibre parts to luxury car manufacturers, including Porsche and BMW, with annual sales reaching roughly $50 million. It will aim to double the figure by utilising the Mitsubishi Rayon, the world’s fourth-largest producer of carbon fibre.

This purchase will focus the company’s attention on Europe and the race for lighter vehicles in the face of tougher fuel economy regulations coming by 2020. The global market for automotive carbon fibre is expected to grow from 4,000 tons per year now to about 20,000 tons by 2020, with Europe accounting for roughly 70% of the total.

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Both companies are expecting a high growth of carbon fibre demand in South East Asia where local demand still remains high and both believe that Thailand will be the main strategic location for their new facility due to its fully developed automotive industry.

The joint study will target downstream businesses in automotive, energy (natural gas and renewable energy), civil engineering and infrastructure.

MRC and PTT anticipate up to 100 billion JPY worth of sales in carbon fibre composites by 2020 in the region. The joint study will include an evaluation of potential demands for carbon fibre in Thailand and the South East Asia region together with the feasibility study of new carbon fibre and its composites plant in Thailand. At the early stages, the joint collaboration will mainly focus on exploring automotive part and pressure vessel demands however both companies believe that low-cost natural gas containers made of extremely strong and lightweight carbon fibre composites are the key technological breakthrough which will contribute to the transportation sector, unfolding the possibility to maximise fuel efficiency globally. Both companies expect to conclude the joint study by the end of 2013.

Mitsubishi Rayon is one of the largest carbon fibre manufacturers in the world and continues to grow by expanding its capacity to meet global demand for carbon fibre products. A joint collaboration with PTT enhances MRC to globalize its manufacturing capability and support Asian customer base. MRC’s expertise in manufacturing carbon fibre composites will be contributed to joint collaboration.

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The new head office of the business will be located in Irvine, California and will bring together Grafil a manufacturing and sales subsidiary of carbon fibre and Newport Adhesives and Composites a manufacturing and sales subsidiary of composites materials and adhesive films. Grafil and Newport have operated as separate entities since they were acquired by Mitsubishi Rayon in early 90’s.

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