What Godo Shigen does

Godo Shigen Co., Ltd. (株式会社合同資源) is a Japanese privately-held specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1932 and headquartered in Chosei-mura, Chiba Prefecture, with 251-500 employees. The company is Japan's pioneer in iodine production from underground brine and operates across four integrated business lines: iodine production, inorganic and organic iodine compound manufacturing, iodine recycling, and clean natural gas supply. Its technology platform spans multiple extraction methods (historically the copper process, now the blow-out and ion exchange resin methods), specialty synthesis capabilities including 8 glass-lined reactors ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 liters, and proprietary processes such as 99.999% high-purity hydrogen iodide gas production and iodine transfer polymerization for superabsorbent polymers. Manufacturing capacity includes 1,800 t/year potassium iodide, 1,240 t/year hydroiodic acid, 330 t/year sodium iodide, and 40 t/year inorganic iodine compounds, with the second inorganic factory GMP-certified for pharmaceutical-intermediate production.

The company serves industrial B2B customers in pharmaceutical/healthcare (primary segment including X-ray contrast media and PVP-I), electronic materials (LCD panels, perovskite solar cells, semiconductors), and chemical/materials manufacturing (fine chemicals, functional polymers, superabsorbent polymers). Its go-to-market is direct engagement with industrial buyers via website inquiry forms and a Tokyo sales office, supplemented by presence at CPhI Japan and Infarma Japan trade shows. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales under quotation-based pricing for iodine, iodine compounds, natural gas, and recycling services. Key strategic partnerships include Yodo Finechem (organic iodine joint venture, 2006), Polatechno (polarizer film iodine recycling, 2008), Chiba University (CIRIC research hub, 2018), and Sanyo Kasei Industries (SAP polymerization co-development, 2019), with the 50%-owned NKY Pharmaceuticals Japan JV (2015) extending downstream into PVP-I end-products. The company is closely embedded in Japan's iodine industry, with its president serving as president of the Society of Iodine Science (SIS).

Name

Godo Shigen

Legal name

株式会社合同資源

Website

https://godoshigen.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Godo Shigen is a Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer (founded 1932, Chiba) producing iodine, inorganic and organic iodine compounds, and clean natural gas from underground brine, serving pharmaceutical, electronic materials, and chemical industry customers with proprietary high-purity and recycling technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiba

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Iodine and Iodine Compound Sales: Sale of raw iodine and a wide range of inorganic iodine compounds (iodides, iodates) and organic iodine compounds (aromatic, aliphatic, polymerization initiators) to pharmaceutical, electronic materials, chemical, and other industrial manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Godo Shigen manufactures and supplies iodine and a wide range of iodine compound products extracted from underground brine. The company produces raw iodine, inorganic iodine compounds (potassium iodide, sodium iodide, copper iodide, hydroiodic acid), organic iodine compounds (aromatic, aliphatic, polymerization initiators), 99.999% high-purity hydrogen iodide gas, and clean natural gas. It also provides iodine recycling services recovering iodine from industrial waste streams such as polarizer film manufacturing liquid waste.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GODO SHIGEN: Company trade name used on English website and materials
• 鉱石資料館 (Ore Museum)

Products and services

• Raw Iodine from Underground Brine Crude iodine produced from underground brine in Chiba Prefecture, supplied as a foundational raw material for iodine compound manufacturing and direct industrial use.
• Inorganic Iodine Compounds Potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide, copper iodide, and hydroiodic acid (HI) manufactured for pharmaceutical intermediates, LCD panel production, X-ray contrast media, and chemical synthesis. GMP-certified facility produces both granular and tablet forms.
• Organic Iodine Compounds Aromatic, aliphatic, and specialty organic iodine compounds including polymerization initiators for iodine transfer polymerization, supplied to pharmaceutical, fine chemical, and polymer manufacturers.
• High-Purity Hydrogen Iodide Gas (99.999%) Ultra-high-purity hydrogen iodide gas (99.999%) with thorough removal of impurities and moisture, manufactured for high-technology fields such as semiconductors and advanced electronic materials.
• Potassium Iodide Tablet Product Potassium iodide in tablet form for pharmaceutical and industrial applications, addressing hygroscopicity and caking tendency of the powder form.
• High-Purity Copper Iodide (CuI) High-purity copper iodide (99.0%+ purity) produced using Godo Shigen's proprietary process, supplied for electronics, catalysts, and specialty chemical applications.
• Sodium Iodide (NaI) Sodium iodide produced for pharmaceutical, chemical, and electronic materials manufacturing applications, with expanded production capacity of 330 t/year.
• GSD-AM03 Iodine Compound Product Industrial-grade iodine compound product (GSD-AM03) for specialized chemical and industrial applications.
• Organic Iodine Polymerization Initiators for SAP Organic iodine polymerization initiators for iodine transfer polymerization (living radical polymerization) used in manufacturing superabsorbent polymers (SAP) for hygiene products such as diapers. Co-developed with Sanyo Kasei Industries.
• Iodine Recycling Services Recovery and recycling services for iodine-containing industrial waste, including on-site recycling of polarizer film manufacturing waste to recover potassium iodide. Includes hazardous-material-grade combustion furnace for iodine recycling.
• Clean Natural Gas Clean domestic natural gas produced as a co-product of underground brine extraction, supplied as a stable domestic energy source.
• Phthalocyanine Dye Raw Material Compounds (Diimino Pyrrole Compounds) Diimino pyrrole compounds used as raw material intermediates for phthalocyanine dye production, serving the dye and pigment industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Iodine recovery rate from polarizer film manufacturing waste: high efficiency recovery of potassium iodide
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sanyo Kasei Industries Co., Ltd. (三洋化成工業株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2019Joint development and industrialization of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) for hygiene applications using iodine transfer polymerization. Godo Shigen designed and developed specific water-soluble organic iodine compounds that showed high effectiveness in improving water absorption performance of SAPs. Sanyo Kasei Industries commercialized the SAP using these compounds.
• Nanyang Technological University (南洋理工大学) — Prof. Jun Goto LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2019Ongoing joint research with Prof. Jun Goto's laboratory at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore for the development of new organic iodine compounds, building on iodine transfer polymerization technology.
• NKY Pharmaceuticals Japan Ltd. (合同新開源製薬株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2015Joint venture established June 2015 with Godo Shigen (50%), Hakusei Shinkaiyaku Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (40%, Shenzhen Stock Exchange listed), and Koka Co., Ltd. (10%). Located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo with capital of 10 million JPY. Develops, manufactures, and sells PVP-I products and distributes Hakusei Shinkaiyaku's PVP and PVP-I products.
• Chiba University (千葉大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2012Joint research with Chiba University developed a new synthetic method for aromatic nitrile compounds without requiring heavy metals or toxic cyanides — a significant advancement in safety and cost. The Technology Development Center at Chiba Plant conducts this collaborative research. Godo Shigen occupies the 3rd floor research room at the Chiba Iodine Resource Innovation Center (CIRIC) on the Chiba University campus since 2018.
• Polatechno Co., Ltd. (株式会社ポラテクノ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2008Joint development of on-site recycling system for iodine-based polarizer film manufacturing waste liquid. The system achieves high-efficiency recovery of potassium iodide and other effective ingredients from liquid crystal television manufacturing waste. This partnership demonstrates Godo Shigen's iodine recycling capabilities applied to the flat panel display supply chain.
• Yodo Finechem Co., Ltd. (ヨード・ファインケム株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2006Joint venture company established for the manufacture of organic iodine compounds. The organic iodine compound factory was completed within Godo Shigen's Chiba Plant in July 2006. The company specializes in producing organic iodine compounds for various industrial applications.
• Natural Gas Mining Association (天然ガス鉱業会)minorOthersMember of the Natural Gas Mining Association, an optional organization contributing to the healthy development of Japan's combustible natural gas mining industry. Also a member of the Keiyo Natural Gas Council.
• Society of Iodine Science (SIS) (ヨウ素学会)coreOthersGodo Shigen's president serves as president of the Society of Iodine Science (formerly the Iodine Utilization Research Association, FIU). The company is deeply embedded in this industry organization and hosts symposiums. The SIS was restructured from FIU in 2007.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Honeywell International Inc. US conglomerate with a Performance Materials and Technologies segment producing high-purity specialty chemicals (including fluorines and electronic materials) for semiconductor and industrial customers. Adjacent specialty chemicals player with much broader scale and scope than Godo Shigen.
• Lanxess AG: German specialty chemicals company focused on industrial intermediates, additives, and inorganic chemistry. Operates in adjacent specialty chemical markets with a similar B2B industrial customer base, though product portfolio overlap with iodine chemistry is limited.

Direct peers

• ISE Chemicals Corporation: Japan's largest iodine and iodine compound producer, with similar extraction-from-brine technology and broad inorganic/organic iodine product portfolio. Direct domestic competitor in Japanese industrial iodine markets and the most natural comparable for Godo Shigen.
• Kanto Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd. Chiba-based Japanese iodine and natural gas producer operating in the same South Kanto Gas Field as Godo Shigen. Highly comparable business model combining iodine extraction from underground brine with natural gas production, but smaller scale.
• Iofina plc: UK/American iodine specialty chemicals producer using proprietary IOX iodine extraction technology from oilfield brine in Oklahoma. Comparable niche iodine chemical producer focused on specialty applications with similar technology and product profile.
• Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (TCI): Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer and supplier with an extensive catalog of organic and inorganic compounds including iodine derivatives. Serves overlapping pharmaceutical and electronics customers with a complementary high-purity product range.

Regional players

• Resonac Holdings Corporation: Japanese specialty chemicals company (formerly Showa Denko) producing industrial chemicals, electronic materials, and inorganic compounds. Comparable Japanese specialty chemical producer with broader product portfolio serving similar semiconductor and electronics customers.
• ICL Group Ltd. Israeli specialty fertilizer and chemical producer with bromine, magnesium, and phosphate operations. Adjacent specialty chemical player in halogen chemistry serving agriculture and industrial markets with comparable B2B industrial customer orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM): World's largest iodine producer, mining iodine from Chilean caliche ore deposits. Operates globally in specialty plant nutrition, iodine, lithium, and industrial chemicals with substantially greater scale and lower-cost resource base than Godo Shigen.
• Albemarle Corporation: US specialty chemicals leader producing halogen-based products (bromine, lithium, catalysts). Comparable in halogen chemistry expertise and specialty chemical focus, with significantly larger global scale and broader geographic footprint than Godo Shigen.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/godo-shigen-co.-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Godo Shigen