Japan's paper industry coordinates to offset Nippon Paper mill shutdown

Nippon Paper Industries' Yatsushiro mill in Kumamoto has remained shut since a July 2026 earthquake damaged its chimney, with no restart date confirmed. The Japan Paper Association said on 24 September that a cross-industry emergency support scheme, including Nippon Paper rerouting output from its Iwanuma mill to Kyushu, has prevented disruption to newsprint supply.

Why this mattersShows Japanese papermakers can pool capacity to absorb a single-site outage, reducing the risk of newsprint supply shocks from natural disasters.

• Nippon Paper's Yatsushiro mill in Kumamoto has been offline since a July 2026 earthquake damaged its chimney, with no restart timeline confirmed
• The Japan Paper Association's newsprint committee set up an emergency response headquarters on 31 July to coordinate alternative supply among member companies
• Nippon Paper rerouted newsprint output from its Iwanuma mill in Miyagi prefecture to Kyushu to cover the shortfall
• Association chairman Hiroyuki Isono, also president of Oji Holdings, said on 24 September there is currently no concern over newsprint supply stability

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