Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo is a privately held Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer, founded 1947, producing plant-derived glycerin, polyglycerin, and polyglycerin fatty acid esters for food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers across Japan, the Philippines, and broader Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersOsaka, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo does
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd. (阪本薬品工業株式会社) is a privately held, family-owned Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1947 and headquartered in the Osaka area. The company operates as Japan's largest dedicated glycerin producer, manufacturing 100% plant-derived glycerin (refined from coconut and palm oil under RSPO Supply Chain Certification) and an integrated downstream portfolio spanning polyglycerin (2–10 mers), polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyglycerin-based acrylate monomers (SYntech SA series), and brominated epoxy flame retardants. Manufacturing is conducted across three Japanese sites — Senboku (Izumisano, with a new 20,000 tons/year glycerin plant completed November 2021), Ako (Hyogo, polyglycerin capacity expanded 1.8x in July 2022), and Daito (acrylic resin coloring and compounds) — plus a wholly-owned Philippine subsidiary, Sakamoto Orient Chemicals Corporation (SOCC), which contributes approximately 15,000 tons/year of coconut-oil-derived glycerin capacity and downstream derivatives.
The company serves four primary end markets through dedicated divisions: Food Ingredients (SY Grister polyglycerin fatty acid ester emulsifiers approved since 1981), Cosmetic Materials (S.Face and SY Glister lines for PEG-free skincare and makeup), Industrial Materials (capacitor additives, CMP slurry additives, UV/EB curable coatings, flame retardants), and Pharmaceutical (pharmacopoeia-grade glycerin for laxatives, poultices, soft capsules). In parallel, Sakamoto operates a complementary trading (shosha) function through Synthetic Resin and Chemicals departments, and an Overseas Business Department handling cross-border raw material sourcing and export to China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The go-to-market model is sales-led B2B with department-specific inquiry forms, technical support through application laboratories, industry trade show presence (CITE JAPAN, Food Development Expo, ASTEC), and direct engagement with overseas manufacturers.
Revenue is generated from one-time product sales across these manufacturer and trading divisions under quote-based, negotiated B2B contracts; no public pricing is disclosed. Strategic positioning emphasizes regulatory depth (ISO 9001/14001, FSSC 22000, Kosher, HALAL, RSPO SCC MB, EcoVadis Bronze 2023–2025), 70+ years of proprietary refining know-how, and sustainability-aligned plant-derived sourcing. Leadership transitioned in August 2023 with Sakamoto Masahiro succeeding Sakamoto Ryoju (now Chairman) as President and Representative Director.
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo
- Legal name
- 阪本약품공업 주식회사 (Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
- Website
- https://sy-kogyo.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo is a privately held Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer, founded 1947, producing plant-derived glycerin, polyglycerin, and polyglycerin fatty acid esters for food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers across Japan, the Philippines, and broader Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals
- NAICS
- Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends) (CRADAOAO), Fats, Oils & Lipid Ingredients (Specialty Oils, MCTs, Structured Lipids) (CRADAOAL), Food-Grade Additives & Functional Ingredients Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAI), Mono- & Diglycerides (E471) & Derivatives (DATEM, SSL/CSL, Lactylates) (AFAJACAB)
Keywords
Where Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Osaka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Specialty Chemical Manufacturing: Manufacture and sale of glycerin, polyglycerin, and polyglycerin fatty acid esters for food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Revenue generated from product sales across four manufacturing divisions plus trading operations for related chemical products.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manufactures and sells glycerin-based specialty chemicals including purified glycerin, polyglycerin, and polyglycerin fatty acid esters for food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Also operates a trading/distribution function (商社機能) for synthetic resins, chemicals, and related materials, supplying customers both directly through its own production and through agency/trading activities.
Product overview
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo is a glycerin specialty manufacturer with integrated manufacturer and trading company functions. The manufacturer function centers on glycerin and its derivatives — covering purified glycerin, pharmaceutical glycerin, and glycerin 85% from the Glycerin Department; polyglycerin and food-grade polyglycerin fatty acid esters (SY Glister) from the Food Ingredients Department; diglycerin, polyglycerin, and cosmetic-grade polyglycerin fatty acid esters (S.Face, SY Glister, SY-DP series) from the Cosmetic Materials Department; and polyglycerin, polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyglycerin-based acrylates (SYntech SA Series), flame retardants (SR-T Series), and citrus preservatives (Citrus Keep) from the Industrial Materials Department. The trading function includes the Synthetic Resin Department (engineering and commodity plastics), Chemical Products Department (solvents, surfactants, silicones, fatty acids), and Overseas Operations. The company also maintains four production bases: Izumisano (Senboku), Akoh, Daito factories in Japan, and Sakamoto Orient Chemicals Corporation in the Philippines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SYグリスター (SY Grister): Proprietary polyglycerin fatty acid ester product line for food applications including emulsifiers for whip cream, margarine, chocolate, and beverages.
- Sフェイス (S Face)
- SYシンテック (SYntech)
- SYプランテックス (SY Plantex)
Products and services
- Purified Glycerin Refined glycerin products including purified glycerin, pharmaceutical-grade glycerin, and concentrated 85% glycerin used as raw material in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial applications.
- SY Glister Polyglycerin Fatty Acid Esters Food-grade polyglycerin fatty acid esters used as emulsifiers in food ingredient applications, sold under the SY Glister brand.
- S.Face Polyglycerin Fatty Acid Esters Cosmetic-grade polyglycerin fatty acid esters serving as emulsifiers and texture modifiers for cosmetic formulations, sold under the S.Face brand.
- SYntech SA Series UV-Curable Acrylates Polyglycerin-based acrylate monomers (SA Series) used as reactive diluents in UV-curable coatings, inks, and adhesives for industrial applications.
- SR-T Series Brominated Epoxy Flame Retardants Brominated epoxy resin flame retardants sold under the SR-T Series brand for electronics, plastics, and other industrial uses requiring fire resistance.
- Citrus Keep Post-harvest citrus fruit preservative used to extend shelf life and reduce decay in citrus produce.
- SY Plantex Natural antibacterial preparations derived from plant-based materials for food preservation and freshness applications.
- S.Face 10G-2IS Specific cosmetic-grade polyglycerin fatty acid ester SKU within the S.Face product line.
- SY-O24P Specific specialty chemical product (SY-O24P) introduced as a new offering.
- S.Face 10G-M Specific cosmetic-grade polyglycerin fatty acid ester SKU within the S.Face product line.
- THL-55 Specific specialty chemical product SKU (THL-55) within the company's portfolio.
- Synthetic Resin and Chemical Trading Trading/agency distribution of synthetic resins and industrial chemicals from third-party producers, leveraging the company's 商社 (trading company) function to supply customers in Japan.
Companies that use Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo social profiles
Digital presenceSakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo
What does Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo do?
Manufactures and sells glycerin-based specialty chemicals including purified glycerin, polyglycerin, and polyglycerin fatty acid esters for food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Also operates a trading/distribution function (商社機能) for synthetic resins, chemicals, and related materials, supplying customers both directly through its own production and through agency/trading activities.
Is Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo a public or private company?
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo founded?
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo was founded in 1947. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo based?
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo is headquartered in Osaka, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo make money?
One revenue line is on record: specialty Chemical Manufacturing.
Does Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo.
What industry is Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo in?
Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo's product category is Specialty Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAJ, Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients, with a secondary code of CRADAOAO, Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends). Its NAICS code is 3259 and its SIC code is 2860.