OREANDA-NEWS. Ajinomoto Co. has announced plans to invest approximately JPY 1.3 billion to double production capacity for amino acids for use in pharmaceuticals and foods at its subsidiary Shanghai Ajinomoto Amino Acid Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China. The expansion is scheduled to come on line in October 2013 and will help meet demand in the fast-growing markets of China, other countries in Asia and other regions.

The size of the global market for amino acids for pharmaceuticals and foods is estimated at approximately 30,000 tons, and Ajinomoto Co. is the leading supplier. In addition to robust market demand, further economic development in emerging countries and expansion of applications for amino acids is expected to boost the size of the market to about 45,000 tons in 2020. To meet demand in China and elsewhere in Asia, where the amino acid market is growing particularly fast, Ajinomoto Co. is increasing production in Shanghai, which is close to major markets. Ajinomoto Co. is planning efficient capacity expansions using its global network of amino acid production bases, with the aim of securing a market share of 50 percent or more by 2020.

Under its FY2011-2013 Medium-Term Management Plan, Ajinomoto Co. seeks to contribute to “healthy living,” one of the issues facing 21st century human society, through reinforcement of its amino acids business. This expansion of production capacity will not only make Ajinomoto Co. the world’s largest supplier of high-quality amino acids, but will also promote research and development of amino acid applications and expansion of the business. Initiatives include AminoIndex®, which checks health status by measuring the concentration of amino acids in the blood, and the development of amino acid technology in the field of cutting-edge biomedicine.