Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Waga) has committed to build a new Sugar Ester production facility at its Fukuoka Plant (Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka).

    Sugar Ester is an emulsifier mainly made from sucrose and fatty acids derived from vegetable fats and oils. Functionally, it enables the uniform mixing of water and oil, and helps to maintain food quality during processing, distribution, and storage. Sugar Ester is used in a wide range of products, including processed foods such as canned coffee and beverages, dairy products such as whipped cream, and confectioneries cakes, chocolate and more.

    In addition to stable demand from domestic food manufacturers, overseas demand centered on China has grown significantly in recent years, and further growth of the Sugar Ester market is expected in the future. MCC is already producing Sugar Ester at its Mie Plant (Yokkaichi-shi, Mie), but in order to meet increasing demand and strengthen its supply chain, MCC will establish a new line at its Fukuoka Plant as follows.

1.Location                    Fukuoka Plant, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

2.Production capacity    2,000 tons/year

3.Start of construction    June 2021

4.Start of operation        Summer 2023 (planned)