Key Facts
• February 28, 2025: Marusumi Paper applied for civil rehabilitation in Tokyo court.
• Founded in 1919, restructured as a corporation in February 1946.
• 2001: Annual sales peaked at approximately ¥70.2 billion.
• 2019: Launched hygiene products like paper towels to offset declining newspaper demand.
• 2022: Recorded a net loss of ¥12 billion due to rising coal prices.
• November 2023: Drafted a rehabilitation plan, gaining approval from all creditors.
• November 2023 sales dropped to ¥45.8 billion, with a net loss of ¥16 billion.
• February 2025: Decided to exit newspaper and publishing paper businesses.
• Rising raw material, fuel, and transportation costs worsened financial losses.
Summary
Marusumi Paper, a leading Japanese paper manufacturer, filed for civil rehabilitation on February 28, 2025, after years of financial struggles. Established in 1919, the company once thrived with annual sales reaching ¥70.2 billion in 2001. However, the shift to digital media and declining newspaper demand significantly impacted its core business. Efforts to diversify, including launching hygiene products in 2019, failed to reverse the downturn. Rising coal, raw material, and transportation costs further exacerbated losses, with a ¥16 billion net loss recorded in 2023. Despite drafting a rehabilitation plan and gaining creditor approval, the company could not recover. By February 2025, it decided to exit its primary newspaper and publishing paper businesses, marking the end of an era for the once-prominent manufacturer.
