Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Commends Toray Advanced Materials Employees
"Aiming to Strengthen the International Competitiveness of the Domestic Nonwoven Fabric Industry through Exports"
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government will lift the export restrictions on nonwoven fabric for mask filters. This is to restore the market function of the domestic nonwoven fabric industry and enhance its global competitiveness.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 20th that it plans to revise the "Emergency Supply and Demand Adjustment Measures for Nonwoven Fabric for Mask Filters" and implement it from the 23rd. The revision passed the Cabinet meeting on the same day.
The ministry stated that it will abolish the export restriction regulation that had limited exports to within 15% of the two-month average production volume for nonwoven fabric used in health masks.
Exports will be allowed not only for health mask nonwoven fabric, which was partially permitted, but also for dental and droplet-blocking mask filter nonwoven fabric. The goal is to fully restore market functions and strengthen the global competitiveness of the domestic nonwoven fabric industry.
Kang Kyung-sung, Director of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited Toray Advanced Materials, a mask raw material manufacturer located in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, on the day of the announcement to mark the revision of the notice.
The visit was to explain the revision details at the production site of mask raw materials and to commend the efforts of production workers and listen to their difficulties.
Toray Advanced Materials started its PP spunbond nonwoven fabric business in 1990. It is Asia’s leading comprehensive nonwoven fabric maker supplying products such as medical masks and protective clothing, hygiene materials for diapers, and industrial nonwoven fabrics.
Director Kang praised Toray Advanced Materials for its efforts to expand the supply of mask raw materials amid the ongoing occurrence of COVID-19 cases in Korea.
Director Kang said, "With the Cabinet’s approval today, the export restrictions on nonwoven fabric for mask filters have been lifted. I hope this will provide some help to companies that have faced difficulties in expanding overseas so far. The government will also devise various measures to actively support the industry by reflecting the difficulties and suggestions from the production sites."
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