News and Articles

Kao Corporation announces the official opening of its new tertiary amine production plant in Pasadena, Texas, on August 22, 2025. The facility, which is anticipated to take two and a half years to construct, boasts an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons. The company explains that this expansion significantly enhances stable supply for the U.S. market, where mid- to long-term growth is anticipated. Furthermore, local production improves the efficiency of the company’s supply chain and contributes to a reduction in transportation-related CO2 emissions.

The company emphasizes that tertiary amines serve as important chemical ingredients in surfactants used in disinfectants and cleaners. Kao already possesses the world’s largest production capacity, with three existing sites in Japan, the Philippines, and Germany, all utilizing the company’s unique technology to produce high-quality tertiary amines. These materials are used both in Kao’s own products and supplied to industries worldwide through its Chemical Business. The addition of the U.S. plant establishes a three-production-site system spanning the U.S., Europe, and Asia, thereby ensuring a more stable and faster supply to global markets.

The company further states that tertiary amines represent a core component of the Chemical Business’s Global Sharp Top strategy, which forms a focus of Kao’s Mid-term Plan 2027 (K27). The new plant makes a major contribution to stabilizing the global business base of the Chemical Business.

The Pasadena site covers 45 hectares, and the company is considering utilizing the location not only for amine production but also as a platform for collaboration with outside partners to produce derivatives. This initiative strengthens the value chain of the entire ecosystem.

In closing, the company affirms that the Chemical Business continues resolutely taking on challenges to fulfill its role in building the cornerstone of Kao’s global growth.