Vision/Mission
Corporate Philosophy
Contributing to the sustainable growth of society and human well-being through our business activities, we make ourselves a real reliable company and gain respects from our stakeholders such as shareholders, customers, local communities and employees.
Corporate Target
To be a “Global Fine Chemical Specialist” who creates constantly valuable and niche products by developing its original phenol synthesizing technologies.
Business Description
Honshu Chemical’s products are utilized across the industries and used in our daily lives. We manufacture a variety of unique fine products of high quality for markets such as IT, automobile and medical industries. As a Fine Chemical Specialist, we will continue to be innovative and address challenges to create a bright future.
Background
In 1914, Mr. Asajiro Yura, who was engaged in the dyestuff business, succeeded in commercially producing aniline from benzene for the first time in Japan. Since then, Honshu Chemical has offered various products. In 1988, the business of Bisphenol-A was transferred to Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and the remainder of Honshu Chemical has been entirely restructured to be a fine chemical company. Since then, we have been promoting globalization, including the establishment of Hi-Bis GmbH in Germany in 2001.
-Milestone-
1915 Started production of phenol
1953 Mitsui&Co.,LTD. equity participation
1954 Applied to Corporate Reorganization Act (Chapter 11)
1955 Rebirth as Honshu Chemical Industry
1961 Registered by Tokyo Stock Exchange, started production of Bisphenol-A
1968 Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. equity participation
1971 Started production of TMP (2,3,6-Trimethyl Phenol)
1977 Started production of Bisphenol-F
1988 Transfer of Bisphenol-A business to Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
1990 Started production of Photo Resist raw materials
1991 Started production of Biphenol
2001 Founded Hi-Bis GmbH
2014 Built Hi-Bis 2 plant
Markets
Major Products | Major Application & Market | |
Monomers for Super-Engineering Plastics | Biphenol | Liquid Crystal polymer(Electronics) Poly Phenyl Sulfone(Medical/Food/Aircrafts) |
Specialty Bisphenol ・BisP-TMC ・Bis-Z ・BisOC-FL | Specialty Poly Carbonates Specialty Epoxy Resins (Consolidating Hi-Bis GmbH) | |
Highly Functional chemicals | Electronic materials ・TrisP-PA ・2,3,5-TMP | Photo-resist additives/Novolac Resins (Semi-Conductors, LCD resists) |
Cresol Derivatives ・2,3,6-TMP ・m-Cresol ・Purified BHT | Vitamin E(Animal Nutrition) Agro/Pharm intermediates, Electronics Anti-Oxidants |
Location
Head Office: Tokyo, Japan
Factory and R&D Center: Wakayama, Japan
Affiliate Company (Hi-Bis GmbH): Germany
Competitive Advantages
Honshu Chemical’s strength are followings,
(1) Inovation Spirits; which is inherited from our founder, who constructed Japan's first benzene-distillation tower and succeeded in commercialization of aniline.
(2) Original technology; we focus on in-house production and technology, and
develop our own production skills.
(3) Concentration in core competence; we are committed to phenol and cresol derivatives. So, these are two major areas where we have extensive experiences and technologies.
(4) Overcame difficulties; during our history, we have overcome many difficulties including bankruptcies and restructurings. Difficulties were overcome by seeking strategic partnership with Mitsui & Co.,Ltd. and Mitsui Chemicals, who helped us redirect our business. They are our two major shareholders today.
Financial Projection
Consolidated Financial Results Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2018
Net sales: 18.5 billion yen
Operating income: 2.1 billion yen
Company Goals & Objectives
In order to overcome the challenges faced in the next 100 years, we have to continue innovating our technology and working towards new possibilities. So, we will combine our existing know-how, originated from the phenol and cresol derivatives business in the past 100 years, with new technologies. Thereby we can strengthen our core technologies for cultivating new domains, new business models and new products in pursuit of customer satisfaction and contribution to society.
The Mid-Term Plan (FY2019 target)
Consolidated Net sales: 27.0 billion yen
Consolidated Operating income: 4.0 billion yen
Employees
Consolidated number of employees: 353 (as of March, 2017 )