Ministry of Industry Supplies 4.4t of MB Filter Stock to 9 Mask Manufacturers

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government has decided to supply 4.4 tons of melt-blown (MB) filter stock, a core material for masks, to nine mask manufacturers.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy issued the second shipment adjustment order on the 12th under the emergency supply and demand adjustment measures for MB filters in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The emergency supply and demand adjustment measures allow the government to order producers and sellers of MB filters to adjust quantities during production, shipment, and sales, as well as the destinations of shipment and sales, to manage supply and demand.

This measure focuses on supplying approximately 4.4 tons of long-term stock held by MB filter manufacturer Company C to nine mask manufacturers facing production halts due to raw material shortages. This is the second shipment adjustment order following the supply of 4 tons of MB filters to five mask manufacturers on the 6th.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety surveyed mask companies from the 9th to the 11th and selected 50 companies experiencing production disruptions due to MB filter shortages. Among them, nine companies with depleted MB filter stocks and no scheduled incoming supply within the next seven days were chosen as recipients of the supply. The supplied materials are expected to be used for mask production starting from the weekend of the 14th.

In addition to this measure, the Ministry plans to implement multifaceted support to stabilize MB filter supply, including production expansion, diversification of import countries, and facility improvements.

Currently, the MB filter import sources are being diversified to countries such as the United States, with efforts to promote early imports through sample testing support and simplification of overseas procurement procedures. Furthermore, 2.8 billion KRW from contingency funds is being used to support production capacity expansion through facility conversion for different uses and improvement of aging equipment.

An official from the Ministry stated, "We will make every effort to promptly resolve difficulties related to mask production by collecting issues through the public-private joint Material and Parts Supply Response Center and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety."

He added, "We will activate adjustment orders for timely MB filter production, shipment, and sales to promote mask production expansion, while on-site inspection teams will directly check whether the shipment adjustment orders are functioning properly in the field and review additional measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.