Japan metals maker plans $1.2bn Malaysia copper foil plant on AI demand

Materials Japan metals maker plans $1.2bn Malaysia copper foil plant on AI demand Mitsui Kinzoku to boost production of materials used in data centers The copper foil products for which Mitsui Kinzoku plans to expand capacity are used in optical transceivers and other equipment for data centers that power artificial intelligence. (Mitsui Kinzoku) ARATA SHIGENO November 11, 2026 02:35 JST TOKYO -- Japanese metal materials maker Mitsui Kinzoku plans to spend 190 billion yen ($1.2 billion) to build a new copper foil factory in Malaysia to meet strong artificial intelligence-linked demand, the company said Tuesday. Read Next Supply Chain AI boom sparks circuit board crunch across global tech supply chain Electronics India's electronics firms face PCB squeeze as AI demand drives up costs Commodities Copper nears price range of nickel on AI, EV demand Interview Japan's Marubeni looks to profit from bottlenecks arising from AI boom Supply Chain Optical parts maker to triple Malaysian capacity to tackle AI supply crunch Technology Asia's AI supply chain and US data centers set to weather 'blue wave' #techAsia Taiwan's chipmakers shine brightest in living memory Latest on Materials Materials Threat of trade curbs pushes Japan steel exports to three-decade low Materials Japan trading house backs Vietnam tungsten supplier that has drawn US investment Materials U.S. Steel grows to 40% of Nippon Steel profit as prices surge Sponsored Content About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.