FUSO CHEMICAL CO., LTD
4368・Prime Market・Chemicals
Life Science Business
Chemicals business for food, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications centered on fruit acids and organic acids
| Period | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales (full-year, FY2026 (ending March 2026)) | ¥35,411 million | ¥36,288 million | ↓ |
| Operating profit (full-year, FY2026 (ending March 2026)) | ¥5,308 million | ¥5,289 million | ↑ |
| Segment assets (end of FY2026 (ending March 2026)) | ¥40,402 million | ¥38,548 million | ↑ |
| Depreciation (full-year, FY2026 (ending March 2026)) | ¥1,638 million | ¥1,570 million | ↑ |
| Increase in tangible and intangible fixed assets (full-year, FY2026 (ending March 2026)) | ¥2,734 million | ¥1,371 million | ↑ |
Business Details
Manufactures and sells fruit acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and gluconic acid, as well as organic acids such as maleic anhydride and fumaric acid. The business spans a wide range of applications, from the food sector (acidulants, pH adjusters) to industrial fields (detergents, surface treatment agents) and pharmaceutical/daily necessities uses. High value-added products such as Food Additive Preparations (FFA) are also being cultivated. The company operates multiple manufacturing and sales sites in Japan and overseas, with subsidiaries in the United States, China, and Thailand.
Recent Overview
Lower sales but higher profit: sales down 2.4% year on year, but cost improvements and overseas subsidiary contribution led to a slight increase in operating profit
In the Life Science Business for FY2026 (ending March 2026), net sales to outside customers were ¥35,411 million (down 2.4% year on year, a decrease of ¥876 million), and operating profit was ¥5,308 million (up 0.4% year on year, an increase of ¥18 million). Domestically, demand for fruit acids in food and beverage applications remained firm, but pharmaceutical and daily necessities applications softened. Overseas, amid intensifying competition due to the downturn in the Chinese market, the company worked to increase its share of malic acid and expand in the U.S. market; sales to Asia and the U.S. increased, while sales in Europe were sluggish. Operating profit exceeded the prior period due to the elimination of cost increase factors from the prolonged periodic repairs at the Kashima Plant in the prior period, lower raw material prices, and earnings contribution from overseas subsidiaries. The company also decided to invest in expanding sodium gluconate capacity at its U.S. subsidiary, PMP Fermentation Products, Inc.
Key Products
Growth Drivers
- Market share gains and increased sales volume of malic acid in overseas markets (Asia and the United States)
- Improved production capacity through the capacity expansion investment for sodium gluconate at U.S. subsidiary PMP Fermentation Products, Inc.
- New product development and expanded adoption of high value-added products such as FFA (coated organic acids, food additive preparations)
- Continued earnings improvement effect from lower raw material prices
- Expanded earnings contribution from overseas subsidiaries (increased sales mainly in Asia and the United States)
- Improved profit margin from the elimination of the cost increase factor related to periodic repairs at the Kashima Plant
Risks
- Downward pressure on overseas sales and intensifying competition due to the continued downturn in the Chinese market
- Regional imbalance risk in overseas sales due to sluggish sales growth in the European market
- Risk of continued softening demand in pharmaceutical and daily necessities applications
- Erosion of yen-converted sales at overseas subsidiaries due to yen appreciation
- Risk of cost increases due to a rebound in raw material prices
- Impact on operations from seismic reinforcement construction work at the Osaka Plant
- Declining demand trend for products for the papermaking, paint, and housing equipment industries
Last updated: June 19, 2026