CCM: JK Sucralose to seize market share 08-10-2016

In late June, 2016, JK Sucralose Inc. (JK Sucralose) held a press conference at the 18th FiAC2016 (Food Ingredients (Fi) Asia-China 2016), claiming victory in an intellectual property suit in Japan and announcing that it had obtained another 2 patents. The Japanese sucralose market is monopolised by local companies, and this is the first time a foreign enterprise has managed to break into the market.



Source: Baidu


Previously, Chinese made sucralose could not be sold on the Japanese market, as Japanese patents prevented it. On 10 May, 2012, JK Sucralose took the initiative and launched a fight against Japanese companies for the “invalidity of patents”. In partnership with Ogasawara Konno & Rokugawa (a Japanese law firm), it analysed 200+ local sucralose patents trying to find discrepancies.


After a long-fought litigation, it finally achieved victory. This victory is likely to offer unprecedented opportunities for the company during the exploitation of the Japanese market.


“The sucralose business has bright prospects,” stated An Lijun, CEO of JK Sucralose, “We intend to promote the idea that sucralose is both healthy and safe, and to specifically develop the markets of Europe and America.”


With a production capacity of 2,000 t/a, JK Sucralose is the largest sucralose producer in China and the 2nd largest in the world. Headquartered in Shanghai, it operates direct-sale companies in places such as the US and Japan. “We now sell in 90+ countries/ regions,” claimed the company, “We have already obtained 1st / 2nd supplier certification from many multinational food and beverage companies.”


Sucralose, which cannot be broken down by the human body, is used as a no-calorie additive sweetener. To date it has been approved for use in 120+ countries/ regions, and has been used in 3,000 kinds of food and in pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.



 

Since May 2016, a succession of domestic producers, led by JK Sucralose, have raised quoted prices:

  • Jan.-April: <USD45,116/t (RMB300/kg)
  • May: >USD60,150/t (RMB400/kg)
  • June: >USD90,230/t (RMB600/kg)


This can be mainly attributed to a reduction in output caused by environmental policies and technological deficiencies. Tate & Lyle, the world’s largest sucralose producer, has also played a role in the loss of output. In spring, the company shut down its plant in Singapore and transferred production to the US. However, production has not yet begun in the US, and lost capacity will unlikely be restored soon.


Notably, it is rumoured that Tate & Lyle intends to bring an anti-dumping case against Chinese made sucralose. However, JK Sucralose believes that this is not likely to happen over the next three or four years, as anti-dumping cases are typically brought when prices are low. “The price is comparatively high now and is expected to increase further,” said the company.


JK Sucralose is the largest sucralose exporter in China. From Jan. to May, it was responsible for 24.4% of all domestic exports, mainly to the US and Indonesia. Despite this, under heavy environmental pressure, the company has had to limit production, and thus sucralose is in short supply.   


Facing supply shortage and environmental pressure, JK Sucralose has begun to carry out strategic business activities. “Our 4,000 t/a sucralose technological reconstruction project in the Jiangsu Sheyang Port Economic Zone was officially given the go ahead in Feb. 2015.


With an area of 40 ha (600 mu) and a total investment of USD90.2 million (RMB600) million, it is expected to generate sales of USD180.4 million (RMB1.2 billion) annually,” said the company. In addition, it plans to seize a 35-40% share of the market between 2018 and 2020 and raise production capacity to 12,000 t/a in the future.

 

This article comes from Sweeteners China News 1607, CCM



 

About CCM:

CCM is the leading market intelligence provider for China’s agriculture, chemicals, food & ingredients and life science markets. Founded in 2001, CCM offers a range of data and content solutions, from price and trade data to industry newsletters and customized market research reports. Our clients include Monsanto, DuPont, Shell, Bayer, and Syngenta. CCM is a brand of Kcomber Inc.

 

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Tag: sweeteners    sucralose

 

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