A recent NSG Group statement emphasises that the worldwide expansion of Covid-19 infections is having a significant direct and indirect impact on the group, particularly in its main business areas of architectural and automotive glass. In the automotive glass market, the suspension of production by vehicle manufacturers across the globe has led to a sharp drop in demand, especially since mid-March. In the architectural glass sector, the economic impact of lockdowns, particularly in European cities, has also started to soften demand.

In response to such demand fluctuations and complying with national and local governments’ orders and guidelines on daily life such as curfew, the group's business activities in countries around the world are also being drastically changed or reduced. “Taking account of these circumstances, the group is currently examining their impact on forecasts for full year

FY2020 and will announce them as soon as they are confirmed” the statement explains.

Earlier this year, the NSG Group announced a series of profitability improvement measures, including the suspension of operations at the Chiba No 1 float furnace in Japan. Until recently, Chiba No 1 furnace has been operating as a multi-purpose float glass line, producing a wide range of products including architectural and industrial glass used for electronics and other applications. In particular, it has provided support to catch up with an increasing demand for glass used for thin-film solar panels, in addition to the supply of coated architectural glass.

In February 2020, however, NSG’s second float furnace for thin-film solar glass in Vietnam started production. According to the group, the supply of glass to the domestic market in Japan remains unchanged. The other float furnace at Chiba will continue to supply architectural glass and the products previously supplied from Chiba No 1 furnace will be

imported from overseas locations in the future.

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