Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology

What Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology does

Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology Co., Ltd. (河南金丹乳酸科技股份有限公司, SZSE ChiNext: 300829) is a Henan-based fermentation chemicals manufacturer founded in 1984 that produces L-lactic acid and a downstream portfolio of lactates, lactide, polylactic acid (PLA) and corn-derived byproducts. The company operates an aggregate lactic acid and derivative capacity of 233,000 tonnes per year, described as the largest in Asia, with vertically integrated production from corn procurement through microbial fermentation to downstream conversion into food-grade, feed-grade, industrial-grade and pharmaceutical-grade lactates, plus a 10,000-tonne lactide co-production PLA engineering project that extends the chain into biodegradable polymer.

The business runs on a B2B direct-sales model with end-markets spanning food processing (meat, dairy, beverage), pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, animal nutrition, personal care, and industrial/biodegradable materials applications. Customers include major Chinese food and dairy groups such as Shuanghui, Jinluo, Yurun, Mengniu, Yili and Wahaha, alongside international buyers across 90+ countries representing roughly 35% of revenue. R&D is anchored by 49 national patents and eight core technologies rated at international advanced or leading level, including a neutralizer-free L-lactic acid fermentation process licensed from Jiangnan University, and the company has been recognized as a MIIT Manufacturing Single Champion, National Technology Innovation Demonstration Enterprise, Specialized and Sophisticated Little Giant, and Green Factory, with L-lactic acid designated a 2026 MIIT bio-manufacturing iconic product.

Revenue economics come from a multi-grade product mix — bulk L-lactic acid as the volume base, calcium and sodium lactate as higher-margin derivatives, ethyl/butyl lactate for industrial solvents, magnesium/zinc/ferrous lactate for supplements, lactide and PLA for biodegradable end-uses, and corn steep liquor and corn protein powder as byproduct credits. Growth orientation has shifted over 2020–2026 from commodity lactic acid scale toward specialty lactates and the PLA value chain, supported by the Henan Provincial PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute, a Japan representative office for international expansion, and PhD-level hiring across fermentation, downstream processing and polymer chemistry.

Name

Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology

Legal name

河南金丹乳酸科技股份有限公司

Website

https://hnjindan.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology (SZSE: 300829) is China's largest lactic acid producer, manufacturing L-lactic acid, lactates, lactide and PLA for food, pharma, feed and biodegradable-materials customers across 90+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lactic Acid & Bio-based Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends) (IMANAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMAEAOAA), Bio-based Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, bio-PE, bio-PET, cellulose acetate) (IMAMALAC), Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA), Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS) (EUAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Lactic acid production
• Polylactic acid manufacturing
• Biodegradable materials
• Food preservatives
• Animal feed additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Henan

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lactic Acid and Derivative Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling lactic acid and its salt/ester derivatives. Main products include L-lactic acid, calcium lactate, sodium lactate, lactate powder, lactic acid ethyl ester, and polylactic acid. Products are sold domestically to major food/beverage companies and exported to over 90 countries/regions. Approximately 35% of revenue from international markets.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology manufactures and sells L-lactic acid and its downstream derivatives, including calcium lactate, sodium lactate, magnesium lactate, zinc lactate, ferrous lactate, lactic acid powder, lactic acid esters, and polylactic acid (PLA) for biodegradable plastics. The company operates a fully integrated corn-to-PLA industrial chain and also markets corn-derived co-products (corn starch milk, corn bran, corn germ feed material). Production is supplied to enterprise customers in food & beverage, pharmaceuticals/healthcare, animal nutrition, and biodegradable materials industries worldwide.

Product overview

Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology is a comprehensive lactic acid and derivatives manufacturer with a total annual production capacity of 233,000 tonnes. The company's core product portfolio centers on L-lactic acid, calcium lactate, sodium lactate, lactic acid powder, and various lactate salts (magnesium, zinc, ferrous). The product line extends to lactic acid esters and the strategic growth category of biodegradable materials, notably polylactic acid (PLA). The company operates a full industrial chain from corn to starch to sugar to lactic acid to lactide to PLA, with annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes for lactide and PLA co-production. By-products include corn starch milk, corn bran, and corn germ. Products serve diverse applications including food and beverages (as acidity regulators, preservatives, and fortifiers), pharmaceuticals, industrial uses, animal nutrition, paints and coatings, and biodegradable packaging materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• L-Lactic Acid

Quantifiable outcome

• 23.3万吨/年 lactic acid and derivative production capacity, largest in Asia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 江南大学 (Jiangnan University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2023Jindan Technology signed a technology cooperation agreement with Jiangnan University's academician Chen Jian's team for the 'neutralizer-free microbial fermentation key technology for lactic acid production' project. This collaboration aims to develop lactic acid production without neutralizing agents, which saves water, reduces environmental risk, improves product optical purity, shortens production process chain, and reduces per-ton production cost. The technology enables scale production and strengthens Jindan's competitive position in lactic acid manufacturing.
• 清华大学化工系 (Tsinghua University, Department of Chemical Engineering)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJindan Technology has established a cooperation agreement with Tsinghua University's Department of Chemical Engineering for joint R&D in lactic acid and PLA technologies. Tsinghua University is one of the founding member units of the Henan Province Polylactic Acid Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute initiated by Jindan Technology.
• 郑州大学 (Zhengzhou University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJindan Technology and Zhengzhou University have established project cooperation. The company has set up a 'Jindan Scholarship' at Zhengzhou University to support and attract talent. Jindan Technology's Chairman Zhang Peng is an alumnus of Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou University is a member unit of the Henan Province PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute.
• 郑州轻工业大学 (Zhengzhou University of Light Industry)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJindan Technology and Zhengzhou University of Light Industry signed a strategic cooperation agreement and established a joint 'Food Industry Lactic Acid Application Laboratory.' The company participated in the Henan Agricultural Products Processing Annual Conference together with this university, showcasing their collaborative food ingredient solutions.
• 河南省聚乳酸可降解材料产业研究院成员单位 (Henan Province Polylactic Acid Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute - Member Units)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJindan Technology initiated the establishment of this provincial industry research institute, which officially launched on April 8, 2022. Member units include: 清华大学 (Tsinghua University), 南京大学 (Nanjing University), 郑州大学 (Zhengzhou University), 河南农业大学 (Henan Agricultural University), 天津科技大学 (Tianjin University of Science and Technology), 河南省科学院化学所 (Henan Academy of Sciences Chemistry Institute), 河南省科学院生物研究所 (Henan Academy of Sciences Biology Institute), 河南省食品工业科学研究所 (Henan Food Industry Science Research Institute), 邓州市金碧生物材料科技有限公司 (Dengzhou Jinbi Biomaterials Technology Co., Ltd.), 河南正通食品科技有限公司 (Henan Zhengtong Food Technology Co., Ltd.), and 河南省银丰塑料有限公司 (Henan Yinfeng Plastics Co., Ltd.). The institute focuses on key technologies including fermentation strain optimization, non-calcium salt lactic acid production, lactide industrialization, high-molecular-weight PLA, and PLA modification.
• 南京大学 (Nanjing University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNanjing University is a member unit of the Henan Province PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute. The university contributes to the institute's research focus on fermentation strain performance improvement and other key lactic acid/PLA technologies.
• 河南农业大学 (Henan Agricultural University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHenan Agricultural University is a member unit of the Henan Province PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute, contributing agricultural science expertise to the research consortium.
• 天津科技大学 (Tianjin University of Science and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTianjin University of Science and Technology is a member unit of the Henan Province PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute, providing bio-fermentation technology expertise.
• 河南省科学院 (Henan Academy of Sciences) - Chemistry Institute and Biology InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth the Chemistry Institute and Biology Institute of the Henan Academy of Sciences are member units of the PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute, providing specialized chemistry and biology research support.
• 河南省食品工业科学研究所 (Henan Food Industry Science Research Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember unit of the PLA Degradable Materials Industry Research Institute providing food industry application expertise and research support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ADM: Global agribusiness and food/feed ingredients giant with lactic acid and fermentation capabilities. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Jindan across feed acidifiers, food ingredients, and bio-based chemicals, but as part of a much wider portfolio rather than specializing in lactic acid/PLA.
• Cargill: Global food and agri-industrial conglomerate and owner of NatureWorks. Provides overlap with Jindan across food-grade lactic acid, animal nutrition, and the downstream PLA franchise, but as a much broader enterprise.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with a broad bio-based and biodegradable polymer portfolio (including ecovio PLA blends). Overlaps with Jindan on industrial-grade biodegradable materials and chemical inputs, but does not specialize in lactic acid.

Direct peers

• NatureWorks: World's largest dedicated PLA producer (owned by Cargill), operating the largest single-site PLA facility globally. Directly competes with Jindan's downstream PLA capacity and serves overlapping packaging, fiber, and 3D printing end markets.
• Corbion: Dutch global leader in lactic acid and lactic-acid derivatives with a downstream PLA joint venture (TotalEnergies Corbion). Direct competitor across both Jindan's core lactic acid business and its strategic PLA business, with comparable bio-based polymer technology and global customer reach.
• Galactic: Belgian lactic acid and lactate specialist serving food, industrial, and personal care markets. Directly comparable to Jindan's core lactic acid and lactate salt business in technology and customer applications.
• Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials: Chinese PLA producer (listed on Shanghai STAR Market) and subsidiary of Hisun Pharmaceutical. Direct Chinese competitor in the polylactic acid value chain, with comparable focus on bio-based and biodegradable materials.
• TotalEnergies Corbion: PLA joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion operating a commercial-scale PLA plant. Direct peer in Jindan's strategic growth area, competing on PLA resin supply to packaging, fiber, and 3D printing customers globally.
• Kingfa Sci&Tech: Major Chinese producer of modified plastics including biodegradable and bio-based polymer compounds. Direct Chinese peer in PLA modification and biodegradable materials end-applications such as packaging and agricultural films.

Emerging players

• Danimer Scientific: US-based producer of PHA biopolymers (Nodax) for biodegradable packaging and food serviceware. Emerging peer with partial overlap to Jindan's PLA/biodegradable materials business, focused on a different polymer family but the same end-customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology