Toray Industries has announced a plan to expand its nonwovens operation in Jakarta, Indonesia. Through its subsidiary Toray Advanced Materials, the Korean company will add 18,000 tons of polypropylene spunbond capacity at the site, bringing the company’s capacity to 37,000 tons. The new line will be complete in September 2016.

The company’s first Indonesian line came onstream in June 2013 and began operating at full capacity immediately, according to the company. Toray decided to invest in Indonesia three years ago as part of an effort to broaden its manufacturing footpriing and supply all of Asia more easily and effectively. These investments, along with an aggressive Chinese expansion plan, fall in sync with the company’s strategy of becoming a leading maker of spunbond materials in Asia. When all of its announced investments are complete, Toray’s total spunbond capacity in Asia will be 153,000 tons. Toray also has assets in Korea.

According to Toray executives, the Asian market for polypropylene spunbond nonwovens is expected to increase from 660,000 tons in 2016 to 936,000 tons in 2020 because of explosive baby diaper needs in emerging ASEAN countries and adult diaper needs in Korea and Japan due to a greying population.