Creative hybrid chemistry for a better tomorrow
Registered in Tokyo and listed in Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan, Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited (Sumitomo Chemical) was established in 1913 to solve environmental issues.
The smelting operations in the copper industry was emitting quantity of sulfur dioxide.
Sumitomo Chemical was created to transform and monetise this sulfur dioxide into fertilizer.
Since that time Sumitomo Chemical maintained its strategy to develop its expertise and growth from solving pollution issues and convert them into profitable business.
Today Sumitomo Chemical activities hold one of the largest portfolio of chemical products covering five sectors:
- Basic Chemicals: synthetic textile fibers, methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer and polymer, aluminum, rubber chemicals, and polymer additives
- Petrochemicals and Plastics: synthetic resins typified by polyethylene and polypropylene, synthetic rubber, organic chemicals such as propylene oxide, and elastomers and other high-performance resins
- IT-related Chemicals: optical films for liquid crystal displays, photoresists and high-purity chemicals for use in semiconductor manufacturing, high-purity gallium and metalorganics for use as materials for compound semiconductors, super engineering plastics used in electronic parts and devices, and lithium-ion secondary battery materials
- Health and Crop Sciences: crop protection chemicals, fertilizers, feed additives, household and public hygiene insecticides, and active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates.
- Pharmaceuticals Sector: synthetic pharmaceuticals based on its advanced organic synthesis technology.
With 30,000 employees, Sumitomo Chemical is operating 100 companies in the world covering all continents.
Sumitomo Chemical is one of the few chemical companies with such broad integrated portfolio of products from basic chemicals and fertilizer to the most advanced plastics for the electronic or car industry and highest added value ingredients to produce high performances polymers.
Because of this unique vast and integrated business model, Sumitomo Chemical appeared as a natural partner for Saudi Aramco when they decided to move downstream into the petrochemical industry to build the first giant petrochemical complex known as Petro Rabigh in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.
Sumitomo Chemical Key Figures
– 2011 Revenues: $24,4 billion
- 2010 Revenues: $24,8 billion
- 2009 Revenues: $20,3 billion
- 2011 Earnings: $0,07 billion
- 2010 Earnings: $0,3 billion
- 2009 Earnings: $0,18 billion
- 2011 Capital Expenditure: $1,94 billion
- 2010 Capital Expenditure: $1,23 billion
- 2009 Capital Expenditure: $1,29 billion
Sumitomo Chemical Projects and Business Highlights
Research and Development is at the core of Sumitomo Chemical’s strategy around:
- Creative Hybrid Chemistry
- Green Sustainable Chemistry
- Further downstream applications
- Basic research
Then Sumitomo Chemical concentrates its products portfolio on three key segments representing 30% each and 90% in total of its revenues:
- Bulk chemical: petrochemicals, plastics and basic chemicals
- Life science: pharmaceuticals and agriculture chemicals
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT): Battery materials and fine chemicals
Covering all these sectors, Sumitomo Chemical is partnering with Saudi Aramco for the $5 billion capital expenditure project expansion of the Petro Rabigh petrochemicals complex.
Because of its historical roots, Sumitomo Chemicals will continue to put a special attention on climate change impact to:
- Achieve the world’s highest level of energy efficiency
- Develop products and technologies to reduce CO2 emissions
- Implement pro-active carbon management throughout the Sumitomo Chemical Group
In this area, Sumitomo Chemical is providing its technology to Saudi Aramco on the $1 billion Petro Rabigh Clean Fuel project.
In Middle East with Saudi Aramco as in other regions in the world, Sumitomo Chemical is building up its market leadership from a smart balance between the basics needs of the emerging countries and the most sophisticated requirements of the technology industries in rich countries.
