Japan’s Oji Group on Saturday broke ground on a $110 million aseptic carton packaging plant in southern Vietnam under its Oji Liquid Pak brand, considered a major investment in the country’s manufacturing sector.
The plant will occupy about 57,000 square meters at Long Thanh High-Tech Park in Dong Nai City and is scheduled to begin operations in 2028.
It will produce and supply aseptic cartons for beverages and other liquid food products.
The project reflects Oji Liquid Pak's long-term investment commitment to Vietnam and the country's growing role as a strategic manufacturing and supply hub for the group in Southeast Asia, the company said.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives of Oji Group, Oji Liquid Pak, the Dong Nai Industrial Parks and Economic Zones Authority, Amata Industrial Park, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business partners, and local companies.
Strengthening Vietnam's manufacturing ecosystem
The new facility will bring liquid food packaging material production to Vietnam, serving the domestic market while supporting Oji Group's regional supply network in Southeast Asia and international markets.
With a maximum annual production capacity of eight billion cartons, the $110 million plant is expected to strengthen Dong Nai's industrial ecosystem by introducing advanced packaging manufacturing capabilities and creating more than 200 jobs.
"Vietnam is an important market and is increasingly becoming a strategic manufacturing base in Southeast Asia," said Mikito Terauchi, an executive officer of Oji Holdings Corporation.
Establishing Oji Liquid Pak and investing in local production will enable the group to better serve customers in Vietnam and across the Asia-Pacific region, he said.
The investment reflects the company's long-term vision and confidence in the region's sustainable growth potential, Terauchi added.
Nguyen Quoc An, deputy head of the Dong Nai Industrial Parks and Economic Zones Authority, welcomed the investment, saying projects of this scale could support local industrial development, strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, and increase Vietnam's participation in regional supply chains.
Abe Takamoto, head of sales and marketing at Amata in Vietnam, who represented Amata Industrial Park, said the investment reflected growing confidence in Dong Nai as a destination for high-quality, long-term manufacturing projects.
Focus on circular packaging
The investment comes as Vietnam's packaging and consumer goods industries adapt to extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements and the transition toward a circular economy.
Oji Liquid Pak draws on Oji Group's decades of experience in Japan in forestry resources, paper, packaging, and recycling.
Across Southeast Asia, the group is also promoting the collection and recycling of aseptic cartons through technology development and partnerships across the value chain.
The company said this approach considers not only packaging performance but also how materials can return to the value chain and support more resource-efficient use.
"The packaging industry is moving toward a new standard where performance, food safety, operational flexibility, and circularity must go hand in hand," said Kestutis Sliuzas, CEO of Oji Liquid Pak.
The company aims to help customers navigate this transition with solutions that meet current market needs while adapting to future requirements, he said.
Flexible supply model
Oji Liquid Pak said its packaging materials are compatible with roll-fed filling machines already used in the market, allowing manufacturers to use existing infrastructure while optimizing operations and efficiency without compromising quality.
Customers can choose to purchase packaging materials alone or opt for an integrated system that includes packaging materials, filling technology, and technical services from a single provider.
The new plant builds on Oji Group's more than 150 years of experience in forestry, paper, and packaging. The group is Japan's leading manufacturer in the sector, according to the company.
Its liquid packaging capabilities expanded in 2023 when it acquired IPI S.r.l., an Italian company specializing in aseptic cartons and filling equipment with more than 40 years of experience.
Oji Liquid Pak and IPI are now members of the same group, combining Oji's scale and resources with IPI's specialized expertise in aseptic carton packaging. Together, they provide packaging materials, equipment and services.
Oji Liquid Pak was established in Vietnam in 2025 to develop the group's liquid packaging business in the Asia-Pacific region.
The new facility expands its existing business in Asia into local manufacturing, bringing its international expertise closer to customers in Southeast Asia and neighboring markets.
Founded in Japan in 1873, Oji Holdings Corporation is a global group specializing in paper, packaging, and forestry resource management.
The company ranked first in Japan and fifth globally by revenue in the paper and pulp industry, based on its 2023 financial report, according to the supplied company information.
In Vietnam, Oji Group operates across forestry, paper manufacturing, packaging, and finished packaging solutions.
Its operations include a plantation area in Quy Nhon, three Ojitex Vietnam factories nationwide, United Packaging factories, and the new Oji Liquid Pak facility.