Nomura Jimusho

What Nomura Jimusho does

Nomura Jimusho Inc. (株式会社野村事務所) is a privately held Japanese specialty chemical trading company (shosha) founded in February 1933 and headquartered in Tokyo. Operating across five business divisions (Energy, Plastics, Chemical/Advanced Sciences, Life Sciences, Electronics) plus a New Business Development unit, the company functions as a cross-border intermediary that imports and exports specialty chemicals, petroleum refining catalysts, pharmaceutical intermediates, polymer additives, electronic components, and life science products between global technology principals and Japanese and Asian industrial customers. With 90+ years of continuous operation and no recorded deficit fiscal years, the company has built exclusive and long-tenured agency relationships with major global suppliers including Chevron Lummus Global, Advanced Refining Technologies, Johnson Matthey, Aurorium, Ascensus, and ProfilePrint. Its proprietary technical knowledge, particularly in sodium borohydride reduction chemistry spanning 30+ years, supports customer applications in pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and precious metal recovery.

The company's go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise sales through dedicated business divisions, supplemented by wholly-owned subsidiaries in Thailand (Nomura Siam International, established 2013), China (Junju International Trading Shanghai, established 2011), and Vietnam (Nomura Jimusho Vietnam, established 2014), plus joint ventures including Yoshino Moong Pattana (Thailand) for plastic component manufacturing and M-CLEA Bioresource for laboratory animal production. Revenue is generated principally through transactional import/export trading with quote-based B2B pricing (no published price lists), supplemented by process licensing and royalties from petroleum refining catalyst agreements. FY2025 revenue was 301 billion JPY across approximately 80 employees, implying high revenue-per-employee leverage typical of a non-manufacturing shosha model.

Nomura Jimusho is actively repositioning for the decarbonization era. Its SAF feedstock supply chain now spans an ENEOS/Suntory/Yoshikawa consortium targeting used cooking oil from approximately 80,000 food service establishments, supported by ISCC EU and CORSIA certifications. The company is also extending its product surface through AI-powered quality evaluation equipment distribution (ProfilePrint, MUI Robotics AI Nose, Osaka Gas Component Estimation AI System) and ZeMac copolymer product line extensions into polymer modification applications. Strategic organizational changes including the New Business Development Division (2023), Health Sciences Division upgrade (2024), and Bangkok Office (2024) formalize this pivot from a pure trading intermediary toward a more diversified specialty materials and sustainability solutions provider.

Name

Nomura Jimusho

Legal name

株式会社野村事務所

Website

https://nomjim.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nomura Jimusho is a privately held Japanese specialty chemical trading company (shosha) founded in 1933 that imports and exports specialty chemicals, petroleum refining catalysts, polymer additives, and life science products between global technology principals and Japanese and Asian industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals) (424720)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Oilfield & Refining Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Edible Oils & Fats Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAC)

Keywords

• Specialty chemical trading
• Petroleum refining catalysts
• Chemical import export
• Industrial chemical distribution
• Process licensing agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Import/Export Trading of Specialty Chemicals: Nomura Jimusho imports and exports specialty chemical products including pharmaceutical intermediates, polymer additives, solvents, catalysts, and electronic materials. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing based on quantity and market conditions. The company acts as a trading intermediary between global suppliers and Japanese/Asian customers.
2. Petroleum Refining Catalyst Sales: Import and sales of petroleum refining catalysts from manufacturers such as Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), Advanced Refining Technologies (ART), and Johnson Matthey. Includes process licenses and technical services for oil refining, bio-fuel production, and plastic recycling.
3. SAF Feedstock Supply: Supply of sustainable aviation fuel feedstocks including used cooking oil (UCO), non-edible oils, and other bio-based raw materials. Part of the company's carbon neutrality and circular economy initiatives.
4. AI Food Sensory Evaluation Equipment Distribution: Distribution of ProfilePrint AI food sensory evaluation systems and related equipment, primarily to food, beverage, and agricultural companies in Japan and Asia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nomura Jimusho is a specialty chemical trading company (shosha) that imports and exports specialty chemicals, petroleum refining catalysts, polymer additives, life science reagents, electronic materials, and bio-based products. The company acts as a trading intermediary and exclusive sole agent for global chemical technology suppliers, providing technical support, process licensing, and ISCC EU/CORSIA-certified sustainable feedstock distribution to industrial customers across Japan and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Specialty Chemicals Import/Export Trading
• Petroleum Refining Catalyst Distribution
• Specialty Polymer Additives and Bioplastics
• Process Technology Licensing Agency
• Sustainable Feedstock and SAF Supply
• Life Sciences and Electronic Materials Distribution
• AI Food Authentication Technology (ProfilePrint)
• Sodium Borohydride Reduction Technology

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of commercial use for sodium borohydride-based precious metal recovery products (Venpure liquid)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Osaka Gas CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 November 2025Nomura Jimusho became a sales partner for Osaka Gas's 'Component Estimation AI System' which combines near-infrared spectroscopy analysis with AI for high-quality, stable manufacturing. Nomura Jimusho distributes this AI-powered analysis system in its markets.
• Takara Bio Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 November 2024Nomura Siam International (NSI), the company's Thailand subsidiary, entered a non-exclusive sales agent agreement with Takara Bio for Southeast Asia-wide distribution of Takara Bio research reagents. NSI leverages its existing customer network of experimental animal buyers to sell Takara Bio products.
• ENEOS CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2023Collaboration on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock supply chain. ENEOS, Nomura Jimusho, and Yoshikawa Yushiyu (waste cooking oil collector) formed a consortium to establish stable procurement of used cooking oil in Japan. Suntory Holdings joined the consortium in September 2023, with plans to source UCO from approximately 80,000 food service establishments.
• ProfilePrint Pte. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution agent for ProfilePrint AI food sensory evaluation equipment in Japan. The company also signed a channel partnership agreement in 2024 to strengthen cooperation. ProfilePrint uses AI and spectral scanning for objective food quality evaluation.
• Petri Refinetech Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partner for chemically recycled PET resin and BHET monomer produced through proprietary chemical recycling technology. Nomura Jimusho handles sales of recycled PET products derived from PET bottles.
• Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to expand household used cooking oil collection points to all Ito-Yokado stores in Tokyo. Nomura Jimusho proposed dedicated returnable bottles for household UCO collection, which are recycled by Yoshikawa Yushiyu and ultimately used as SAF feedstock by ENEOS.
• Chevron Lummus Global LLC (CLG)coreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive agent for Chevron Lummus Global petroleum refining processes and catalysts in Japan. CLG is a joint venture between Chevron and Lummus Technology providing hydrotreating, hydrocracking, ISOCONVERSION for renewable fuels, and plastic recycling process licenses.
• Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART)coreTechnology or IntegrationAgent for ART hydrotreating catalysts including those for bio-fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. ART integrates development, manufacturing, and technical services for hydrotreating catalysts.
• Johnson Matthey CatalystscoreTechnology or IntegrationAgent for Johnson Matthey (formerly ICI-Synetix) nickel and precious metal catalysts for petrochemical, fat and oil, and fine chemical applications. Provides technical services for catalyst selection and application support.
• Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner in Thailand. Yoshino Moong Pattana (Thailand) Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells plastic components (trigger sprays, pumps, bottles, tubes) for cosmetics, food, and household products. Yoshino Kogyosho is a leading Japanese plastic molding manufacturer.
• CLEA Japan Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgent for CLEA Japan experimental animals and related products for overseas markets, particularly Southeast Asia. Joint venture M-CLEA Bioresource in Thailand produces experimental animals for Asian markets under CLEA Japan technology and quality standards.
• Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of understanding signed for rubber seed procurement and utilization for bio-fuel applications. Part of the company's sustainability and carbon neutrality initiatives. RAOT manages Thailand's rubber industry including research, replanting, and farmland management.
• Aurorium (formerly Vertellus Specialties)coreTechnology or IntegrationAgent for pyridine, picoline, and their derivatives, as well as castor oil and derivatives from Aurorium. Aurorium is the world's largest manufacturer of pyridine and picoline with manufacturing in China supplying global markets.
• Ascensus Specialties LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationAgent for sodium borohydride (SBH) following Ascensus's acquisition of Vertellus's SBH business in 2018. Nomura Jimusho has 30+ years of SBH supply history. Ascensus provides special reducing agents including SBH, Bitride, and related compounds for pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and flavors.
• Novvi LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgent and distributor for Novvi 100% plant-derived base oils (API Group III) and solvents. Products contribute to carbon neutrality with excellent evaporation characteristics and biodegradability. Novvi's hydrocarbon-based molecules are not ester compounds but pure hydrocarbons.
• Arrayjet LimitedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive agent for Arrayjet microarray fabrication equipment (arrayers) in Japan. Non-contact piezo inkjet heads for DNA, RNA, and protein spotting on slides. Distributed since 2017 following a distribution agreement signed in autumn 2017.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nagase & Co., Ltd. Japanese specialty chemicals and trading company with a similar model of importing/distributing overseas specialty chemicals (including catalysts, polymers, life science reagents) to Japanese manufacturers. Closely comparable in customer base (chemical, electronics, pharma) and exclusive agency approach.
• Chori Co., Ltd. Tokyo-based mid-sized Japanese trading company specializing in chemicals, plastics, textiles and industrial materials. Similar scale and operating model as Nomura Jimusho, focused on bridging overseas suppliers with Japanese industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Kanematsu Corporation: Japanese sogo-shosha with significant chemicals, petroleum, and plastics trading operations, including catalyst and petrochemical intermediates distribution. Larger and more diversified than Nomura Jimusho but competes in overlapping chemical trading lines.
• Sojitz Corporation: Japanese trading company with a chemicals division covering petroleum products, plastics, and specialty chemicals. Similar trading-intermediary role in Japanese/Asian markets with global supplier relationships.
• Toyota Tsusho Corporation: Japanese trading house with a chemicals and plastics segment, and active in catalyst and biofuel-related businesses. Significantly larger but operates in overlapping specialty chemical distribution channels.
• Iwatani Corporation: Japanese industrial gas and energy company with adjacent specialty chemical and catalyst-related operations. Overlaps with Nomura Jimusho in energy and specialty industrial materials distribution in Japan.
• Marubeni Corporation: Diversified Japanese trading house with chemicals, energy, and plastics divisions serving Japanese and Asian industrial customers. A larger incumbent competing for similar specialty chemical distribution mandates.
• Mitsui & Co., Ltd. One of Japan's largest sogo-shosha with extensive chemicals, energy, and infrastructure operations globally. Competes with Nomura Jimusho for principal agency mandates and Japanese enterprise customers at a vastly larger scale.
• Brenntag SE: Global market leader in chemical distribution, providing specialty and industrial chemicals to customers worldwide. Operates the trading-intermediary model at global scale that Nomura Jimusho executes regionally in Japan/Asia.

Emerging players

• Azelis Group: Global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with strong presence in Asia-Pacific. Comparable in the specialty chemicals distribution model and life sciences/food ingredients focus, particularly relevant given Nomura Jimusho's growing ProfilePrint and food evaluation business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nomura Jimusho