[Japan] Agc To Phase Out Automotive Glass Plant

Asahi Glass Co has announced that a meeting of its Board of Directors decided April 15 to cease the automotive glass business at its Kitakyushu plant by the end of 2009. As a result of a marked decline in automotive glass demand in Japan since last autumn, the capacity utilisation of the automotive glass business of AGC has shrunk to around 50%. In Japan, automotive glass was produced at 3 sites: Aichi; Sagami; and Kitakyushu. The decision was made to optimise production systems and bolster competitiveness.