| August 2001 |
| |
Ajinomoto to Increase Production of
Monosodium Glutamate in Brazil
|
|
Ajinomoto Interamericana Indústria e Comércio Ltda., a subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. established in Brazil in 1974, began production of umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO (monosodium glutamate) in 1977. Today, production of AJI-NO-MOTO stands at 100,000 tons annually at the two plants of group companies Ajinomoto Interamericana and Ajinomoto Biolatina Industria e Comércio Ltda. In addition, Ajinomoto del Perú S.A., a subsidiary established in Peru in 1968, has produced AJI-NO-MOTO since 1969.
Brazil is the world’s largest producer of sugar cane, the main raw material of MSG. An abundance of raw materials and effective use of by-products from the fermentation and production process have enabled Ajinomoto to achieve world-leading cost-competitiveness. As a production base for regions bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the location in Brazil allows exports not only to South America, but also to North and Central America, Europe and Africa. With the market growing at an annual rate of 4 percent, the performance of the Ajinomoto Group in Brazil has been improving steadily.
To meet this rising demand, Ajinomoto has begun studying increasing the scale of annual production to a combined 150,000 tons annually at its most important production bases — Ajinomoto Interamericana and Ajinomoto Biolatina. The first stage will entail investment of US$18 million in the Laranjal Paulista Plant of Ajinomoto Biolatina to increase annual production by 20,000 tons. Combined with the Limeira Plant of Ajinomoto Interamericana, this will bring production capacity to 120,000 tons per annum. The new production facilities are scheduled for completion in November 2001. |
|
| Reference 1: Size of MSG Market and Ajinomoto’s Share |
| Region |
|
Ajinomoto’s share |
Worldwide
Excluding China
(Europe and U.S.) |
1,500,000 tons
850,000 tons
(270,000 tons) |
100%
57%
(18%)
|
|
30%
48%
(47%) |
|
|
| Reference 2: Company Profiles |
| (1) Ajinomoto Interamericana Indústria e Comércio Ltda. |
| Date of establishment: |
December 16, 1974 |
| Head office: |
Rua Joaquim Tavora 541, Vila Mariana, 04015-901
São Paulo, SP, Brazil |
| President: |
Shinzo Kagitomi |
| Main products: |
Seasonings including AJI-NO-MOTO, Sazon,
Sabor Ami and Hon-Dashi, table top sweeteners,
retort pouch foods |
| Capital: |
R$54,657 thousand |
| Number of employees: |
434 |
| |
| (2) Ajinomoto Biolatina Indústria e Comércio Ltda. |
| Date of establishment: |
June 26, 1975 |
| Head office: |
Rua Joaquim Tavora 541, Vila Mariana, 04015-901
São Paulo, SP, Brazil |
| President: |
Shinzo Kagitomi |
| Main products: |
AJI-NO-MOTO, feed-use lysine |
| Capital: |
R$85,715 thousand |
| Number of employees: |
252 |
| |
| (3) Ajinomoto del Perú S.A. |
| Date of establishment: |
February 29, 1968 |
| Head office: |
Av. Republica de Panama 2455, La Victoria,
Lima-13, Peru
P.O. Box 14-0431, Lima, Peru |
| President: |
Michiharu Shintani |
| Main products: |
AJI-NO-MOTO, soy sauce |
| Capital: |
31,961 thousand soles |
| Number of employees: |
414 |
|