Construction has commenced on National Route 5, a major national infrastructure project in the Republic of Paraguay connecting Concepción and Pozo Colorado over a total length of approximately 90 kilometers. For this project, a fiber-reinforced concrete pavement method utilizing the Company’s concrete reinforcement fiber “BarChip” has been adopted.

Paraguay experiences high temperatures throughout the year and supports heavy traffic from large trucks transporting agricultural and livestock products. As a result, conventional asphalt pavement has faced durability challenges, including early rutting. While conventional concrete pavement offers superior durability, it is generally associated with higher initial construction costs.

To address these challenges, the Company proposed a fiber-reinforced concrete pavement solution to Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Works and Communications that maintains durability while allowing for a reduced pavement thickness. Following a high evaluation of its technical advantages and cost-effectiveness, the method was selected for this project. This marks Paraguay’s first full-scale national highway project employing concrete pavement.

The use of BarChip contributes to crack control and enhanced abrasion resistance, while also improving construction efficiency and reducing total life-cycle costs.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan is also supporting the development of national standards in Paraguay for concrete roads and fiber-reinforced concrete, with the aim of promoting the appropriate adoption of fiber-reinforced concrete pavement in the country.

Building on our success in Paraguay, we will leverage this milestone to expand throughout Latin America and other regions across the Global South, including Africa, that face similar infrastructure challenges, driving sustainable global growth.