Toray to increase tow carbon fiber annual capacity by over 20%

Toray Industries, Inc. will increase the Group’s annual capacity of regular tow carbon fiber by over 20% to 35,000 metric tons beginning in 2025, by investing in new lines at two facilities, the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA and the Gumi plant in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea.

These expansions target high-strength carbon fibers up to 24,000 filaments per tow, which is in rising demand for pressure vessel applications, thanks to the ongoing clean energy revolution in hydrogen, natural gas, and other industrial applications. The capacity increases will also complement total supply for other core markets such as aviation.

Toray announced plans to increase regular tow carbon fiber production capacity.

Toray anticipates demand for regular tow carbon fiber to grow by 17% annually under the decarbonization megatrend which signals the growing demand for compressed natural gas delivery vehicles and gas transportation tanks. This trend will also increase the adoption of regular tow carbon fiber for passenger cars, trucks, trains, and ships that utilize fuel cells.

Toray has made growing sustainably pivotal to Project AP-G 2025, its medium-term management program. Accordingly, the company has positioned industrial applications of its carbon fiber composite materials business to accelerate measures tackling climate change. Toray will fully leverage its comprehensive capabilities to help materialize a carbon neutral economy by 2050.