Mitsui Chemicals invests in Global Ichiba Corp.

Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd. announces its investment in Global Ichiba Corp., which operates an export business platform for Japanese fruits and vegetables.

With this investment, Mitsui Chemicals and Global Ichiba Corp. will collaborate and leverage the strengths of both companies to promote a solution-type business aimed at solving the problems faced in the export of Japanese agricultural products.

Background and challenges

To continue to develop Japanese agriculture in the future, the government is currently taking the initiative to expand exports of agricultural products. Fruits and vegetables are expected to play a part in this initiative, but unlike grains and processed products, fruits and vegetables are severely damaged during oversea long-term transportation and cause large amounts of food loss, so it is best to deliver them to overseas consumers in a fresh state. In addition, it is difficult when exporting to overseas because it is necessary to comply with the pesticide residue standard values of each target country, which is difficult for individual producers. Expanding Japan's exports of fruits and vegetables has the above-mentioned issues.

About the strengths of the Mitsui Chemicals Group

• Have knowledge and freshness-preserving packaging materials for fruits and vegetables that can withstand oversea long-term transportation

• Affiliated company Mitsui Chemicals Agro has pesticides and their technical knowledge

Through collaboration with Global Ichiba Corp., which aims to build a distribution base for fruits and vegetables, mainly in Asia, Mitsui Chemicals will provide solutions to issues related to Japan's exports of fruits and vegetables and contribute to reducing food loss.