Kuraray

What Kuraray does

Kuraray Co., Ltd. (TSE: 3405) is a 100-year-old Japanese specialty chemical company, founded in 1926, that develops and manufactures high-performance materials across six product categories: Resins & Films (EVAL™, KURARAY POVAL™, MOWITAL™, PARAPET™ PMMA), Chemicals & Elastomers (SEPTON™, HYBRAR™, liquid rubber, polyols), Fibers (VECTRAN™ LCP fiber, CLARINO™ artificial leather, KURALON™ PVA fibers, meltblown nonwoven), Activated Carbon (where it is the world's largest manufacturer via Calgon Carbon and Chemviron subsidiaries), Hollow-Fiber Membranes (AQUAVICSUS™, PUREAR™, Chara series), and Others (VECSTAR™ LCP film, VECRUS™ LCP nonwoven, CMP pads, dental materials).

The company's technology is anchored in proprietary polymer chemistry, with multiple world-first innovations including the first industrial production of VECTRAN™ liquid crystal polymer fiber in 1990 (used in NASA Mars Rover landing airbags) and VECSTAR™, the world's first LCP film. Its hollow-fiber membrane technology serves approximately 183,000 dialysis patients globally with 99.999% endotoxin removal capability and features proprietary hydrophilic PVDF membranes with 98.7% water recovery rates. The MonoSol subsidiary holds a dominant position in water-soluble PVOH films for unit-dose consumer products.

Kuraray operates a B2B direct sales model through wholly-owned regional subsidiaries in Japan, US, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe, with dedicated sales divisions for each product line (Elastomer, Methacrylate, VECTRAN, Carbon Solutions) and technical application engineering support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year contracts typical for industrial customers. Revenue is generated through specialty chemical product sales and technical consulting/services, serving diversified end markets including automotive, packaging, healthcare, water treatment, electronics, aerospace, consumer goods, and construction. The company is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker 3405.T) and maintains dedicated investor relations, sustainability reporting, and corporate governance infrastructure.

Name

Kuraray

Legal name

Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Website

https://kuraray.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Kuraray Co., Ltd. is a 100-year-old Japanese specialty chemical company (TSE: 3405) that manufactures high-performance resins, films, elastomers, LCP fibers, activated carbon, and hollow-fiber membranes for industrial customers in automotive, healthcare, water treatment, consumer goods, and electronics markets worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins (325991), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Additive Compounds (UV/Antioxidant/Slip/Antiblock/Processing Aids) (IMANABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiber- & Mineral-Filled Reinforced Compounds (Glass/Carbon/Talc/CaCO3) (IMANABAI), Bulk Plasticizers & Additives (Commodity Grade) (IMAEAAAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals
• High-performance materials
• Activated carbon
• Liquid crystal polymer
• Water treatment membranes

Headquarters

HQ city

Otemachi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemicals and Materials Sales: Kuraray generates revenue primarily through the sale of specialty chemical products including resins, films, elastomers, fibers, activated carbon, methacrylic resin, and membrane products. The company operates as a B2B supplier to industrial customers across multiple sectors.
2. Technical Services and Support: Revenue is generated through technical consultation, application engineering support, and custom product development services for industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kuraray manufactures and sells specialty chemicals and high-performance materials including specialty resins and films (EVAL EVOH, KURARAY POVAL PVOH, MOWITAL PVB, PARAPET PMMA, VECSTAR LCP film), chemicals and elastomers (SEPTON, HYBRAR, liquid rubber, polyol, ISOBAM), fibers (VECTRAN LCP fiber, CLARINO synthetic leather, KURALON PVA fibers, meltblown nonwoven), activated carbon products, and hollow-fiber membrane modules for water treatment. The company sells primarily to industrial B2B customers across automotive, healthcare, packaging, electronics, water treatment, and consumer goods sectors.

Product overview

Kuraray is a specialty chemical company with a diversified portfolio of materials organized into six main categories: Resins & Films (including EVAL, POVAL, MOWITAL, PARAPET, and specialty films), Chemicals & Elastomers (SEPTON, HYBRAR, Liquid Rubber, Polyol, Diol, ISOBAM), Fibers (VECTRAN LCP fiber, CLARINO artificial leather, KURALON PVA fibers, Meltblown nonwoven), Activated Carbon (activated carbon, fibers, filters, and related products through Kuraray's Carbon Solutions division), Hollow-Fiber Membranes (Aquavicus and Purea series for water treatment, wastewater recycling, and industrial filtration), and Others (including VECSTAR LCP film, VECRUS LCP nonwoven, dental materials, CMP pads). The company serves diverse markets including packaging, automotive, construction, healthcare, electronics, water treatment, and agriculture through its global manufacturing and sales network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEPTON™: Styrenic thermoplastic elastomer block copolymer with styrene-based hard-blocks and diene soft block
• HYBRAR™
• PARAPET™
• VECTRAN™
• VECSTAR™ (ベクスター®)
• VECRUS™ (ベクルス®)
• CLARINO™ (クラリーノ®)
• KURARAY POVAL™
• MonoSol
• Aquavixus® (アクアヴィクサス®)
• Puria® (ピューリア®)
• Character® (キャラクター®)
• Kuraray Coal® (クラレコール®)
• MAGIC TAPE™
• ELVANOL™

Products and services

• SEPTON / HYBRAR Thermoplastic Elastomers Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers providing rubber elasticity and plastic moldability; SEPTON is a block copolymer with styrene hard-blocks and diene soft blocks, while HYBRAR is a triblock copolymer with polystyrene end blocks and vinyl-bond rich polydiene mid-block for high vibration damping and shock absorption.
• KURARAY POVAL / ELVANOL PVOH Resins Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resins used in adhesives, sealants, coatings, and film applications with water solubility and film-forming properties for industrial customers.
• MOWITAL PVB Resin PVB (polyvinyl butyral) resin used in interlayer films, coatings, and adhesives for safety glass and industrial applications.
• PARAPET Methacrylic Resin (PMMA) Methacrylic resin (PMMA) molding material with excellent transparency, weatherability, and abrasion resistance used in automotive parts, optical components, and consumer goods.
• KURARAY LIQUID RUBBER Liquid rubber products based on isoprene chemistry used in adhesives, sealants, and polymer modification applications.
• Diol Compounds Diol compounds used as chemical intermediates for polyurethanes and other polymer syntheses.
• Kuraray Polyol Polyol compounds used in polyurethane formulations for foams, coatings, elastomers, and adhesives.
• Water-soluble PVOH Film (MonoSol) Water-soluble, biodegradable PVOH films for unit-dose applications including laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, personal care products, agriculture chemicals, and food ingredients; distributed by MonoSol subsidiary.
• ISOBAM Isobutylene Polymers Isobutylene-based polymers used in specialty chemical applications including rubber modification and sealing materials.
• VECTRAN Liquid Crystal Polymer Fiber Liquid crystal polymer fiber; world's first industrially produced in 1990, offering high strength, low moisture absorption, dimensional stability, and high abrasion resistance for cables, webbing, protective equipment, and composite materials.
• CLARINO Synthetic Leather Artificial leather product line offering synthetic leather alternatives with microfiber structure for fashion, automotive, and industrial applications.
• Meltblown Nonwoven Fabric Meltblown nonwoven fabric used in filtration, insulation, and medical protective equipment applications.
• Polyester Fibers and Filaments Polyester fibers and filaments for textile, industrial, and technical applications including short-cut fibers.
• MAGIC TAPE Hook-and-Loop Fastener Hook-and-loop fastener (releasable adhesion) product line for various industrial and consumer applications.
• MOLD MAGIC Molded Hook Products Molded hook products using hook-and-loop fastener technology for industrial and consumer applications.
• KURASTAR Tarpaulin Sheets Tarpaulin sheet products for agriculture, fishery, and industrial covering applications.
• CMP Pads for Semiconductor Manufacturing Chemical mechanical planarization pads used in semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Hollow-Fiber Membrane Modules Filtration membrane modules including Aquavicus and Purea series for water treatment, wastewater recycling, and industrial filtration applications.
• KURADRIP Plastic Hoses Plastic hose products for agricultural irrigation and fluid transfer applications.
• VECRUS LCP Nonwoven Fabric Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) nonwoven fabric offering high heat resistance, chemical resistance, and low water absorption for electronic circuit substrates.
• VECSTAR Liquid Crystal Polymer Film World's first liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film developed using Kuraray's proprietary film-forming technology; offers superior electrical characteristics, flexibility, high strength, gas barrier properties, and shape retention for flexible printed circuits, millimeter-wave radar, glass antennas, and speakers.
• EVAL EVOH Resin EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol) copolymer resin with superior gas barrier properties for food packaging, automotive fuel tanks, and industrial applications.
• EXCEVAL Modified PVOH Resin Specialty modified PVOH resin with enhanced water solubility and film properties for packaging and industrial applications.
• GENESTAR PA9T Engineering Plastic PA9T (polyamide 9T) engineering plastic offering high heat resistance, dimensional stability, and electrical properties for electronic connectors and automotive components.
• KURALON / KURALON K-II PVA Fibers PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) fiber products for reinforcement, textiles, and industrial applications including water-soluble fibers.
• KURARITY Acrylic Block Copolymer Acrylic block copolymer offering transparent, flexible properties without plasticizers for modifier and compounding applications.
• MOWIFLEX TPU Film Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film product line for automotive, footwear, and industrial applications.
• PLANTIC Biodegradable Resin Starch-based biodegradable resin product line offering sustainable packaging alternatives.
• SentryGlas Structural Interlayer Film Structural interlayer film for safety glass applications in architectural, automotive, and solar panel markets.
• Trosifol PVB and Structural Glass Interlayer Film PVB and structural glass interlayer film product line for laminated safety glass in architectural and automotive applications.
• Activated Carbon Products Activated carbon products for adsorption of organic compounds in liquid and gas applications; includes coconut shell, coal-based, and wood-based activated carbons with various pore sizes and capacities, including PFAS removal and battery materials.
• Kuractive Activated Carbon Fiber Activated carbon fiber products offering high adsorption performance for air purification, water treatment, and industrial process applications.
• Kurfilter Activated Carbon Filters Activated carbon filter products for air and water purification applications.
• Kuranode Battery Anode Material Anode material for lithium-ion secondary batteries offering high conductivity, specific surface area, and chemical stability.
• Kurasep Nitrogen Gas Generator PSA-type nitrogen gas generator producing nitrogen from electricity and air; used in nuclear plant explosion prevention, marine applications, and industrial gas generation.
• Aquavicsus GL Membrane Module External-pressure hollow fiber membrane module with 3x water permeability compared to previous products; features hydrophilic PVDF membrane, high strength and chemical resistance, for water treatment and wastewater recycling.
• Aquavicsus GP Membrane Module External-pressure hollow fiber membrane module with resin housing suitable for seawater and high-salinity water; offers high water permeability, strength, and contamination resistance.
• Purea GS Membrane Module High-precision external-pressure hollow fiber membrane module with 42m² membrane area for micro-particle filtration; features free-end structure and air-backwash cleaning.
• Purea SL Membrane Module External-pressure hollow fiber membrane module with divided structure optimized for high-turbidity raw water filtration; uses hydrophilic PVDF membrane with PVA coating.
• Purea SF Membrane Module

Quantifiable outcome

• 3x water permeability improvement in AQUAVICSUS™ GP membranes compared to previous products
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MonoSol, LLCcoreOthersMonoSol, LLC is Kuraray's subsidiary company specializing in water-soluble PVOH films. The company revolutionized the laundry and dishwasher detergent industry with soluble unit dose systems used by world's leading consumer brands. MonoSol's films dissolve completely upon contact with water and are biodegradable.
• Calgon Carbon CorporationcoreOthersCalgon Carbon Corporation is referenced as part of Kuraray Group's global network for activated carbon products. Kuraray Group is the world's largest activated carbon manufacturer, with Calgon Carbon operating as part of their global footprint.
• Chemviron S.A.coreOthersChemviron S.A. is referenced as part of Kuraray Group's global network for activated carbon products, serving environmental applications across Europe.
• Kuraray (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.coreOthersKuraray (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. serves as the company's China regional headquarters and website, managing operations and customer engagement in the Chinese market.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eastman Chemical: US-based specialty chemicals company producing specialty plastics, fibers, and chemical intermediates. Direct overlap with Kuraray in specialty plastics, plasticizers, and fibers, with comparable B2B industrial customer base.
• Asahi Kasei: Japanese diversified specialty chemicals and materials producer with overlapping portfolios in performance polymers, membranes (Microza UF/MF), and elastomers. Directly competes with Kuraray in membranes, specialty resins, and engineering plastics across industrial and water treatment customers.
• Celanese: Global specialty chemicals company with leading positions in engineered polymers (including LCP) and acetyl chain. Direct competitor in liquid crystal polymers (Vectra/Ticona competes with VECTRAN/VECSTAR) and acetyl-based specialties.
• Mitsui Chemicals: Japanese specialty chemicals group with comparable offerings in elastomers, specialty resins, and films. Overlaps with Kuraray in EVA, ophthalmic and industrial materials, and packaging films, serving similar automotive and packaging customers.
• Sekisui Chemical: Japanese specialty chemicals and materials company producing interlayer films (S-LEC PVB), high-performance plastics, and housing materials. Direct competitor in PVB interlayer films (vs. Kuraray's MOWITAL) and specialty resins.

Emerging players

• Solvay: Belgian specialty chemicals company with strong presence in advanced materials, specialty polymers, and composites. Competes with Kuraray in specialty polymers and high-performance materials for electronics and automotive applications.

Broad incumbents

• Toray Industries: Major Japanese specialty materials company with strong presence in high-performance fibers, films, and resins. Direct overlap with Kuraray in specialty fibers, plastics, and water treatment membranes, but with much larger scale and broader end-market exposure.
• Sumitomo Chemical: Large Japanese chemical conglomerate with petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, and IT-related materials. Competes with Kuraray in petrochemical feedstocks and some specialty resins, though broader in agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
• DuPont: Global specialty chemicals leader with extensive portfolios in engineered polymers, electronic materials, and water treatment. Competes with Kuraray in specialty films, barrier resins, and membranes, with significantly greater scale and R&D resources.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with broad exposure to specialty chemicals, performance materials, and agricultural solutions. Overlaps with Kuraray in petrochemicals, specialty polymers, and coatings additives, though far more diversified.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kuraray
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/kuraray
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kuraray
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kuraray
• Instagraminstagram.com/kuraray_official

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries12 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 Kuraray