Mitsui Mining & Smelting
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 5706
- Industry
- Non-Ferrous Metals
- Category Detail
- Manufacturing Machinery & Electrical Equipment
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Establishment Year
- May 1950
- Listing Year
- October 1950
- Official Website
- https://www.mitsui-kinzoku.com/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- Nippon Kodoshi Corporation, Central Glass, Kanto Denka Kogyo, Tanaka Chemical, Mitsubishi Materials, Sumitomo Metal Mining, DOWA, Double Scope, GS Yuasa Corporation, Furukawa Battery, FDK
Overview
Mitsui Mining & Smelting is a major non-ferrous metals manufacturer founded in 1950, a comprehensive materials company strong in electronic materials, zinc smelting, and automotive parts manufacturing.
Current Situation
Mitsui Mining & Smelting recorded consolidated sales of approximately 522.9 billion yen, operating profit of approximately 51.1 billion yen, and net profit of approximately 44.7 billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 2021, establishing a stable financial base. Electronic materials is its mainstay business, and it holds market share in zinc smelting and automotive door lock parts. It excels in smelting technology and intermediate materials development, and is known as one of the world's leading producers of copper foil. It focuses on environmental measures and resolving the Itai-itai disease issue, fulfilling its social responsibilities. In recent years, it has concentrated on vehicle battery materials and exhaust gas purification catalysts, advancing technological innovations. By 2030, it aims to further enhance material functionality and expand its presence in the automotive sector, balancing sustainability and operational efficiency.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Began operations of zinc electrolysis plant at Kamioka Mine in 1943.
- Historically known as the cause of Itai-itai disease.
- World top-class track record in automotive door lock parts.
- Long history as a member of the Mitsui Group.
- Inspection tampering issue discovered in 2025 and addressing it.
- Owns multiple major smelters and factories nationwide.
- Possesses world-class copper foil production facilities and provides high-function materials.
- Continuing efforts to resolve environmental issues.
- Diversifies business risks through intermediate materials diversification.
Hidden Connections
- Leverages Mitsui Group's extensive network for collaboration across industries
- Competes and collaborates with Sumitomo Metal Mining, Mitsubishi Materials, etc.
- Has close transactions with major automakers in automotive parts sector
- Kamioka Mine smelting byproducts reused as raw materials in other industries
- Closely related to social responsibility issues in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture community
- Manufactures products highly evaluated worldwide in electronic materials field
- Significantly influences investment benchmarks as a Nikkei 225 constituent
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Increasing demand for vehicle battery materials
- Expansion of exhaust gas purification catalyst demand due to stricter environmental regulations
- Global increase in demand for high-function electronic materials
- Advances in material functionalization and lightweighting technology
- Overseas market development and new customer acquisition
- Focus on recycling and sustainable materials
- Market growth from automotive electrification and environmental regulation compliance
Strategic Goals
- Expand sales ratio of electronic materials to over 50% of total
- Increase domestic and international market share of exhaust purification catalysts by 20%
- Reduce smelting environmental impact by 30%
- Strengthen overseas expansion of automotive parts business and new product development
- Build sustainable resource circulation system
- Promote greening of supply chain
- Improve operational efficiency through digital transformation
Business Segments
Electronic Materials Supply
- Overview
- Segment providing high-function electronic materials to a wide range of industries
- Competitiveness
- Stable supply capacity for high-purity materials and smelting technology
- Customers
-
- Semiconductor manufacturers
- Electronic component manufacturers
- Smartphone makers
- Automotive electrical parts manufacturers
- Industrial machinery manufacturers
- Products
-
- Copper foil
- Thin-film materials
- Catalyst materials
- Rare metal processed products
- Battery materials
Non-Ferrous Metals Smelting
- Overview
- Supply segment for mining, smelting, and reprocessing non-ferrous metals
- Competitiveness
- Advanced recovery technology for byproducts from smelting
- Customers
-
- Construction companies
- Metal processors
- Recycling companies
- Environmental companies
- Trading companies
- Products
-
- Zinc ingot
- Copper ingot
- Precious metals recovery products
- Copper alloy materials
- Environmentally friendly smelting byproducts
Automotive Parts Manufacturing
- Overview
- Manufacturing segment for automotive parts emphasizing environmental compliance and safety
- Competitiveness
- World top-class copper foil and catalyst technology
- Customers
-
- Automakers
- Automotive parts suppliers
- Motorcycle manufacturers
- Environmental regulation compliance companies
- Logistics companies
- Products
-
- Door lock parts
- Exhaust gas purification catalysts
- Vehicle battery materials
- Intake and exhaust parts
- Precision machined parts
Functional Materials Manufacturing
- Overview
- Segment providing industrial functional materials to various industries with technical support
- Competitiveness
- Technological capabilities covering a wide range of materials and applications
- Customers
-
- Chemical manufacturers
- Electronic parts companies
- Building materials manufacturers
- Industrial equipment manufacturers
- Research institutions
- Products
-
- Functional powders
- Perlite
- Ceramics products
- Special materials
- Precision powder materials
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- Advanced smelting technology and materials development capabilities
- World top-class share in copper foil sector
- Broad materials manufacturing system and diversified business
- Reliability backed by long history
- Stable capital base from Mitsui Group
- Strong environmental response and social responsibility awareness
- Continuous R&D by abundant engineers
- Solid customer base in vehicle parts sector
- Non-ferrous metals smelting byproduct recovery technology
Competitive Advantages
- World-leading copper foil quality and supply capacity
- Integrated operations from electronic materials to metal smelting
- Strong market influence in automotive environmental parts
- Revenue diversification through byproduct utilization in smelting
- Proven track record in addressing environmental issues over the long term
- Utilization of Mitsui Group's extensive network
- Rich patents and proprietary technologies as intellectual property
- Collaboration with major domestic and international electronics and automakers
- Advanced materials processing and functionality enhancement technology
Threats
- Impact of metal price market fluctuations on earnings
- Risk of cost increases due to stricter environmental regulations
- Intensifying technological and cost competition with overseas rivals
- Social risks related to resource mining and smelting
- Shift to electrification and new technologies in automotive industry
- Risk of declining social trust due to inspection fraud, etc.
- Impact of exchange rate fluctuations and international trade friction
- Risk of global supply chain disruptions
- Labor shortages and aging of engineers
Innovations
2024: Development of thin-film materials for high heat-resistant sensors
- Overview
- Developed high-function heat-resistant sensor thin films in collaboration with Tayama Science
- Impact
- Contributes to product performance improvement and new market development
2023: Technological renewal of automotive exhaust catalysts
- Overview
- Commercialized next-generation catalyst technology aimed at reducing environmental impact
- Impact
- Enhances customer satisfaction and environmental compliance capabilities
2022: Advanced rare metal recycling technology
- Overview
- Introduced new technology that significantly improves precious metals recovery efficiency
- Impact
- Reduces smelting costs and improves sustainability
2021: Introduction of high-durability manufacturing technology for vehicle copper foil
- Overview
- Achieved industry-leading thinning and durability improvement for copper foil
- Impact
- Expands market share and strengthens product competitiveness
Sustainability
- Complete resolution of Itai-itai disease issue and victim support
- Enhanced wastewater and effluent purification in smelting processes
- Expansion of recycled resource use and waste reduction efforts
- Ongoing development of technologies to reduce environmental impact
- Dialogue with local communities and cooperation in environmental conservation activities
- Establishment of environmental management system with ISO14001 certification