Sharp receives mask production request from government, first request 150,000 pieces a day

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic version reported the following:

シャープがマスク生産、政府要請受け　まず1日15万枚

新型コロナ 経済 エレクトロニクス

2020/2/28 18:00日本経済新聞　電子版

シャープが新型コロナウイルスによる肺炎の感染拡大を受け、マスク生産に乗り出すことが分かった。マスク不足を受けた政府の緊急要請に応じて異業種から参入するのは初めて。3月半ばにも1日あたり15万枚の態勢で生産を始め、同月中にも市場に投入する。政府は新型コロナウイルス対策の予算を投じて後押しする。

シャープは三重工場（三重県多気町）でマスクを生産する方針だ。液晶ディスプレーを生産する同工場のクリーンルームなどを活用する。まず3つの製造ラインで作り始め、最終的には10ラインで1日50万枚まで増やす計画だ。

政府は緊急対策として2019年度予算の予備費から103億円を支出すると決定済みで、シャープに資金を支援する。マスク生産設備の導入事業の対象に認定し、3000万円程度を補助する方向だ。

最大手のユニ・チャームなど国内の既存メーカーのマスク生産は、新型コロナウイルスの感染が拡大する以前は週2000万枚程度だったが、政府の補助も受けて足元では各社の合計で週1億枚ほどの生産能力があるとみられる。シャープのシェアは数%になる見通しだ。

新型コロナウイルスの世界的な感染拡大が続くなか、マスクの需要が急拡大し、国内の小売店では在庫がなくなっている。以前は国内需要の7割を賄っていた中国メーカーからの輸入が滞っているためで、シャープのマスク生産への参入は国内の品不足解消に一定の効果がありそうだ。

菅義偉官房長官は26日の衆院予算委員会で、3月に月6億枚規模の供給力を確保できるとの見通しを改めて示している。既存のメーカーのほかにも広く協力を募って供給を増やし、国民の不安を払拭したい考えだ。

Translation

Sharp was set to start producing masks following the spread of pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus. This was the first time that a different type of company entered the market in response to a government urgent request due to a mask shortage. Production would begin with 150,000 pieces per day in the middle of March, and they might go into the market in the same month. The government would throw in a new coronavirus control budget and back it up.

Sharp planned to produce masks at the Mie Plant (Taki-cho, Mie Prefecture). It utilized a clean room at the plant which produced LCD displays. It planned to start with three production lines and eventually increased to 500,000 pieces per day with ten lines.

The government had decided to spend 10.3 billion yen from the contingency budget for the 2019 budget as an emergency measure, and would provide Sharp with the funding. The company planned to subscribe about 30 million yen for a project to introduce mask production equipment.

Prior to the spread of the new coronavirus, the production of masks by existing domestic manufacturers such as Unicharm, the largest manufacturer, was around 20 million per week; but with the assistance of the government, it seemed that on this footing the total of all companies could have a production ability of 100 million per week. Sharp's share was expected to represent a few percent.

As the global outbreak of the new coronavirus continued to spread, demands for masks had surged and inventory at retail stores in Japan had run out. Sharp's entry into the mask production seemed to have a certain effect in resolving the shortage of goods in Japan because imports from Chinese manufacturers, which previously covered 70% of domestic demand, had been delayed.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshii Suga repeatedly reminded the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Tuesday that a supply capacity of 600 million pieces per month in March could be secured. He hoped to broaden his cooperation with existing manufacturers to increase supplies and to ease public anxiety.

          So, Japan is gearing up its preparation to fight the new coronavirus.