Tosoh Corporation
Tosoh Corporation is a Japanese diversified chemical manufacturer (founded 1935, TSE: 4042) producing chlor-alkali, petrochemicals, urethane raw materials, advanced ceramics, and bioscience instrumentation, serving automotive, electronics, medical, and industrial customers globally through approximately sixty subsidiaries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersShiba, Japan
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tosoh Corporation does
Tosoh Corporation is a publicly traded Japanese diversified chemical manufacturer (Tokyo Stock Exchange ticker 4042) founded in 1935 and headquartered in Tokyo. The company operates through three principal business divisions: Chlor-Alkali (soda ash, caustic soda, chlorine, and related inorganic chemicals produced via the ammonia-soda process), Petrochemicals (olefins, aromatics, polyethylene, PVC, synthetic rubbers, PPS, and petroleum resins), and Functional Products (advanced materials such as YSZ zirconia powders, quartz glass, oxide sputtering targets, electrolytic manganese dioxide, synthetic zeolites, ceramic sintered products, as well as bioscience instrumentation including TSKgel HPLC columns, ion chromatographs, AIA immunoassay systems, and TOYOPEARL separation media). Urethane raw materials (MDI, polyols, Aquanate water-based isocyanates, Miractran TPU) form a fourth major product family.
The company's technology base spans inorganic chemistry, petrochemical processing, fine ceramics (notably a proprietary nanotechnology-based hydrolysis process for yttria-stabilized zirconia powders where Tosoh claims global #1 market position), bioscience analytical instrumentation, and advanced electronic materials. Tosoh also operates a Urethane raw materials franchise built around the Millionate MDI brand family.
Tosoh executes a direct sales model via dedicated division-level sales departments (Soda Sales, Olefin Sales, Polymer Sales, High-Functional Materials, Bioscience), supported by approximately 30 domestic and 30 overseas subsidiaries and affiliates across Japan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, UK, Switzerland, UAE, and Greece. Since 2004, the company has pursued a hybrid management strategy balancing commodity and specialty chemicals as dual growth pillars. The company employs around sixty group entities, holds numerous registered product trademarks (Millionate, TSKgel, TOYOPEARL, Zpex, SUSTEEL, Aquanate, HSZ, etc.), and serves diverse end markets including automotive, electronics/semiconductors, environment/energy, industrial supplies, food/housing, and medical/pharmaceutical/analysis. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customer engagement occurs through product inquiry forms and dedicated sales channels on the corporate website.
Tosoh Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tosoh Corporation
- Legal name
- 東ソー株式会社 (Tosoh Corporation)
- Website
- https://tosoh.co.jp
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Tosoh Corporation is a Japanese diversified chemical manufacturer (founded 1935, TSE: 4042) producing chlor-alkali, petrochemicals, urethane raw materials, advanced ceramics, and bioscience instrumentation, serving automotive, electronics, medical, and industrial customers globally through approximately sixty subsidiaries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tosoh Corporation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty and Commodity Chemical Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Petrochemical Manufacturing (325110), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Base Aromatics (BTX: Benzene, Toluene, Xylenes) (IMAEADAB)
Keywords
Where Tosoh Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shiba
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices27 records
Markets served
Tosoh Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Chlor-Alkali Products: Sales of inorganic chemical products including caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), soda ash, liquid chlorine, hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride, sodium hypochlorite, high-test hypochlorite, polyaluminum chloride, vinyl chloride monomer, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). These are commodity chemicals used widely in industrial processes.
- Petrochemical Products: Sales of olefins (ethylene, propylene, butadiene, toluene, benzene, mixed xylene, C4 fraction, C5 fraction, cumene, TBA), polymers (polyethylene variants, PPS/SUSTEEL, petroleum resins PETROTOP/PEtCO, chlorosulfonated polyethylene TOSO-CSM, chloroprene rubber SKYPRENE, paste PVC RYURON, Melthene adhesive polymers, EVA Ultra-Cen), and related products.
- Functional Products: Sales of advanced materials including organic chemicals (bromine, flame retardants, hydrocarbon cleaners, amine catalysts, ethylene diamine, heavy metal treatment agents, conductive polymer SELFTRON), high-functional materials (sputtering targets for electronics, quartz glass, zirconia powders/beads/compounds, manganese products, zeolites, ceramic products), and bioscience products (HPLC columns TSKgel, ion chromatograph IC-8100, immunoassay AIA systems, genetic testing TRC products, glycohemoglobin analyzers).
- Urethane Products: Sales of polyurethane raw materials including MDI (Millionate MR polymeric MDI, Millionate MT mononuclear MDI, Millionate MTL series), polyols, coating resins, adhesives, water-based isocyanates (Aquanate series), thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (Miractran), and polyurethane elastomers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tosoh Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tosoh Corporation manufactures and sells a diversified portfolio of industrial chemicals, petrochemicals, polyurethane raw materials, advanced ceramics and electronic materials, and bioscience products. The company uses its proprietary ammonia-soda, electrochemical, polymerization, and nanotechnology-based processes to produce hundreds of products — including soda ash, caustic soda, MDI, zirconia powders, quartz glass, sputtering targets, HPLC columns, and diagnostic analyzers — serving automotive, electronics, medical, energy, and construction customers globally through its direct sales force and international subsidiary network.
Product overview
Tosoh Corporation operates as a diversified chemical manufacturer with three core business segments: Chlor-Alkali, Petrochemicals, and Functional Products. The Chlor-Alkali segment produces inorganic chemicals including soda ash, caustic soda, chlorine, and related products. The Petrochemicals segment manufactures olefins, aromatics, and polymer products including various polyethylene grades, PPS, petroleum resins, and synthetic rubbers. The Functional Products segment (Advanced Materials) offers high-performance materials including zirconia powders and components, quartz glass, manganese oxides, oxide sputtering targets, synthetic zeolites, and ceramic products. Additionally, the company produces urethane raw materials, organic chemicals, bioscience products including chromatography columns and diagnostic equipment, and cement products. Tosoh employs a hybrid management strategy balancing commodity and specialty chemical businesses since 2004.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- サスティール® (Susteel®): PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) resin brand
- ペトロタック® (Petrotack®)
- ペトコール® (Petcol®)
- メルセン® (Melthene®)
- ウルトラセン® (Ultracen®)
- トヨクロン® (Toyoclon®)
- ペトロセン® (Petrosen®)
- ニポロン® (Nipolon®)
- スカイプレン® (Skypren®)
- リューロンペースト® (Rupen® Paste)
- フレームカット® (Frame Cut®)
- ゼオラム® (Zeolam®)
- HSZ®
- ブラウノックス® (Brownox®)
- YTZ®
- Zpex®
- TSKgel®
- TOYOPEARL®
- SELFTRON®
- ミリオネート® (Millionate®)
- ミリオネートMT® (Millionate MT®)
- ミリオネートMTL® (Millionate MTL®)
- ，LUMITAC®
Products and services
- Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide High-purity manganese dioxide obtained through electrolysis, used as a cathode material for alkaline dry batteries and as a raw material for lithium-ion secondary battery cathode materials (lithium manganese oxide). Produced at Tosoh Hyuga and Tosoh Hellas with identical quality across both sites and BCP compliance.
- Electrolytic Metal Manganese High-purity electrolytic manganese metal with 99.9% manganese purity, used for manganese element addition in stainless steel and aluminum alloys, and as a deoxidizer/desulfurizer in metallurgical processes.
- Ceramic Sintered Products Precision ceramic molded products manufactured using injection molding, enabling low-cost mass production of complex-shaped components with high precision for industrial applications.
- Quartz Glass High-purity quartz glass with superior heat resistance and light transmission properties, used in semiconductor manufacturing, flat panel manufacturing, optics, energy, and communication fields. Tosoh produces both fused and synthetic grades in-house from raw material to finished product.
- Zirconia Powder TZ Series Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder produced via nanotechnology hydrolysis, with grades optimized for fine ceramics, optical fiber connectors, oxygen sensors, NOx sensors, and solid oxide fuel cells. Includes standard, easy-to-form, easy-to-sinter, and binder variants.
- Zirconia Powder for Dental / Translucent Grade YSZ powder for dental applications, offering high strength, toughness, wear resistance, and translucency similar to natural teeth, used by dental prosthetic manufacturers and laboratories.
- Zirconia Powder Color Grade Color zirconia powder with rich color depth suitable for watch components, mobile device exteriors, light anti-reflection parts, and mechanical/structural components.
- Zirconia Grinding Balls (YTZ) High-quality yttria-stabilized zirconia grinding balls produced jointly with Nikkato Corporation, ideal for wet grinding of electronic components, battery materials, pharmaceuticals, and other high-purity requirements.
- Zirconia Microbeads TZ-B Series Yttria-stabilized zirconia microbeads with high strength and toughness, used for shot blasting and shot peening applications.
- Zirconia Injection Molding Compound PXA Series Zirconia-based injection molding compounds with superior flow, release, and atmospheric debinding properties, suitable for precision and complex-shaped components. PXA is a registered trademark of Tosoh Corporation.
- Trimanganese Tetroxide (Braunox) High-purity, single-crystal layered trimanganese tetroxide used as a manganese raw material for ferrites, thermistors, and other electronic industrial materials. Marketed under the Braunox trademark.
- Oxide Targets Wide range of oxide sputtering targets including ZnO, Al-added ZnO, HDR (high-refractive-index) series, and SiO2 used for thin film formation in electronics applications; Tosoh's ZnO targets enable direct-current discharge without additives.
- Synthetic Zeolite HSZ Series Hydrophobic synthetic zeolites with high silica-to-alumina ratio (5 or above), offering superior heat and acid resistance for catalytic and adsorption applications. Available in beta, ZSM-5, ferrierite, mordenite, L-type, and Y-type crystal structures.
- Chlor-Alkali Products Core inorganic chemicals including soda ash, caustic soda, liquid chlorine, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, high-test hypochlorite, polyaluminum chloride, vinyl chloride monomer, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), produced via the ammonia-soda process for industrial customers.
- Petrochemical Products (Olefins and Aromatics) Petroleum-derived olefins (ethylene, propylene, butadiene), aromatics (toluene, benzene, mixed xylene), C4/C5 fractions, cumene, and TBA sold to industrial petrochemical processors.
- Urethane Products Polyurethane-related products including MDI (Millionate MR polymeric MDI, Millionate MT mononuclear MDI, Millionate MTL series), polyols, coating resins, adhesives, water-based isocyanates (Aquanate series), thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (Miractran), and polyurethane elastomers for coatings, adhesives, and foam applications.
- Polymer Products Polymer products including polyethylene (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, ultralow density), PPS (Susteel), C5–C9 petroleum resins (Petrotop, Petcol, Petrosen), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (Toso-CSM), chloroprene rubber (Skyprene), paste PVC (Ryuron), Melthene adhesive polymers, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (Ultracen).
- Organic Chemical Products Organic chemical products including ethyleneamine, tertiary amine catalysts (Toyocater, TEDA, RZETA), bromine compounds, flame retardants (Flame Cut), hydrocarbon cleaners, ethylene diamine, heavy metal treatment agents, and SELFTRON conductive polymers.
- Bioscience Products Bioscience products including HPLC columns (TSKgel series), ion chromatographs (IC-8100), GPC systems, separation and purification media (TOYOPEARL, TSKgel, SkillPak), automated immunoassay analyzers (AIA, AIA-CL) for clinical diagnostics, genetic testing reagents (TRC), and glycohemoglobin analyzers.
- Cement Products Cement products including blast furnace slag cement and ordinary Portland cement for construction applications, sold by the Cement Business Office.
Companies that use Tosoh Corporation
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Tosoh Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Tosoh Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Physical Internet Implementation Council / Chemical Working Group (フィジカルインターネット実現会議・化学品ワーキンググループ)moderateTosoh participates in the Physical Internet Implementation Council's Chemical Working Group, which developed the chemical logistics information standardization guidelines - the first industry-wide data linkage infrastructure for chemical logistics in Japan. This initiative addresses transportation capacity shortages by enabling visualization of nationwide hazardous material logistics. Tosoh is listed as a participating member alongside other chemical industry companies, contributing to industry-wide logistics digitalization efforts.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tosoh Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BASF SE: World's largest diversified chemical company with petrochemicals, intermediates, performance chemicals, and agricultural solutions. Broad incumbent with overlapping BTX, polymer, and specialty material offerings, though much larger and broader than Tosoh.
- Dow Inc. Major US-listed diversified chemical producer with commodity plastics, performance materials, and industrial intermediates. Comparable petrochemicals platform (olefins, aromatics, polyethylene) but more concentrated in commodity plastics than Tosoh's specialty mix.
Direct peers
- Mitsui Chemicals: Major Japanese diversified chemical producer with petrochemicals, urethane (MDI), polymers, and functional products. Directly comparable to Tosoh across olefins, urethane, and specialty segments, serving similar automotive and industrial customers.
- Olin Corporation: US-listed global chlor-alkali leader producing caustic soda, chlorine, and related chemicals with additional Winchester ammunition and epoxy segments. Closest direct peer for Tosoh's chlor-alkali commodity business model and customer base.
- Tokuyama Corporation: Japanese chemical company with comparable chlor-alkali, petrochemicals, and specialty/electronic materials segments. Similar size and Japanese listing profile; competes with Tosoh in semiconductor materials and inorganic chemicals.
- Mitsubishi Chemical Group: Japan-headquartered diversified chemical manufacturer with overlapping petrochemicals, polymers, advanced materials, and specialty chemical segments. Most direct like-for-like peer given comparable scale, Japanese listing, and hybrid commodity-plus-specialty strategy.
- Asahi Kasei: Diversified Japanese chemical manufacturer with materials, polymers, and healthcare/diagnostics segments. Comparable to Tosoh in chlor-alkali heritage, urethane intermediates, advanced materials, and bioscience/diagnostic operations.
- Shin-Etsu Chemical: Japan-based specialty chemical leader with strong positions in PVC, silicones, semiconductor materials, and rare earth magnets. Comparable to Tosoh in chlor-alkali/PVC, semiconductor materials, and Japanese-listed chemical conglomerate profile.
- Daicel Corporation: Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer with chemicals, polymers, and advanced materials segments. Comparable in scale and Japanese-listing profile, with overlapping organic chemicals, acetate tow, and specialty materials offerings.
Emerging players
- Nikkato Corporation: Japanese ceramics manufacturer that co-developed YTZ zirconia grinding balls using Tosoh's zirconia technology. Adjacent player with deep technology partnership, competing in ceramic bead applications alongside Tosoh.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tosoh Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceTosoh Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tosoh Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Tosoh Corporation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries68 records
Tosoh Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tosoh Corporation 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 Tosoh Corporation
What does Tosoh Corporation do?
Tosoh Corporation manufactures and sells a diversified portfolio of industrial chemicals, petrochemicals, polyurethane raw materials, advanced ceramics and electronic materials, and bioscience products. The company uses its proprietary ammonia-soda, electrochemical, polymerization, and nanotechnology-based processes to produce hundreds of products — including soda ash, caustic soda, MDI, zirconia powders, quartz glass, sputtering targets, HPLC columns, and diagnostic analyzers — serving automotive, electronics, medical, energy, and construction customers globally through its direct sales force and international subsidiary network.
Is Tosoh Corporation a public or private company?
Tosoh Corporation is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Tosoh Corporation founded?
Tosoh Corporation was founded in 1935. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Tosoh Corporation based?
Tosoh Corporation is headquartered in Shiba, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Tosoh Corporation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Chlor-Alkali Products are the primary driver. The others are petrochemical Products, functional Products and urethane Products.
Who are Tosoh Corporation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BASF SE and Dow Inc.. Direct peers are Mitsui Chemicals, Olin Corporation, Tokuyama Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Asahi Kasei, Shin-Etsu Chemical and Daicel Corporation. Nikkato Corporation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tosoh Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tosoh Corporation.
What industry is Tosoh Corporation in?
Tosoh Corporation's product category is Specialty and Commodity Chemical Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEADAB, Base Aromatics (BTX: Benzene, Toluene, Xylenes). Its NAICS code is 32511 and its SIC code is 2860.