Chemicals Division
Message from the COO
- Executive Officer, COO, Chemicals Division
- Naoya Iwashita
The division operates a wide variety of trade and businesses from the upstream field, such as petrochemicals, synthetic resin, PVC Alkali, inorganic products, and agrochemicals, to the downstream field, such as specialty chemicals and electronic materials.
In fiscal 2009, the economic recovery in developed countries remained delayed. However, strong growth in developing nations, such as China and India, has allowed for active transactions, which led the division to successful business. In fiscal 2010, the division will work toward improving trade and other existing businesses, while trying to accumulate investments in strategic fields/regions. The division will push ahead with businesses for petrochemicals/fertilizer/inorganic mineral resources in the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, which are competitive in raw materials, petrochemicals/specialty resin/automotive-related businesses in the growing Chinese and Indian markets, and distribution/specialty chemicals businesses in the U.S., Europe and other markets of mass consumption, in order to strategically expand both business and trade in these fields.
Sources of Strength
• Established and leading presence in markets for olefins and synthetic fiber intermediates
The division has been building a presence mainly in Asia since the 1980s, particularly in the olefin market. The division’s quick responsiveness to changes in the supply and demand balance and ready transportation access via specialty tanker chartering are among the advantages that support its top-class industry position today.
• Outstanding business volume in the trade of vinyl chloride monomers and resins
The division’s experience joint venture with a U.S.-based manufacturer, enabled familiarity with the industry that has translated into securing major supply sources and sales channels, resulting in steady growth in trading volume for vinyl chloride monomers and resins.
• Strong ties with the world’s leading suppliers of salt and boric acid
The division has earned the trust of its trading partners through securing stable supply by investing in and financing a number of major supply sources in close proximity to resources, and by achieving supply stability.
• Commitment to Sales of Agricultural Materials and Sales in the Fertilizer/Agrichemical Fields
The division has some of the largest distributors for agricultural materials in the United States and Great Britain, in order to pursue business in the fertilizer/agrichemical field. In the fertilizer field, the division is globally expanding the supply of sulfur through services of special vessels and collection from the Middle East, while expanding the trade of nitrogen/phosphorus fertilizer, striving to create a synergy with agricultural materials distributors and grain business.
• Comprehensive efforts across the whole supply chain
The division seeks to contribute to future profitability in downstream chemical products such as electronic materials, including LCDs, solar panels and semiconductors, as well as specialty materials and performance chemicals, such as fatty alcohol.
News & Topics
Expanding Ethylene Operations
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing and Sales Business in China
Agrochemicals Business in the United States
