Katakura Coop Agri
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 4031
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Category Detail
- Chemicals & Chemical Products
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Establishment Year
- March 1920
- Listing Year
- October 1961
- Official Website
- https://www.katakuraco-op.com/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- Atomix, Showa Kasei, Toami, Daijet Industrial, Unozawa Gumi Iron Works, Morio Den, Muro Corporation, Sakurajima Wharf, Hokuriku Gas, MT Genex
Overview
Katakura Coop Agri is a major domestic fertilizer manufacturer founded in 1920, holding a share in organic fertilizers in the chemicals and chemical products field, and engages in manufacturing, sales, and research and development of agricultural materials.
Current Situation
Katakura Coop Agri achieved consolidated sales of 37.561 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 2020, establishing the top position in the domestic fertilizer industry. It handles a wide range of agricultural materials, mainly compound fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, pesticide-containing fertilizers, feed, and culture soil. In addition to manufacturing and sales, it undertakes commissioned analysis of soil and crops, diversifying its operations across agriculture-related fields. Through the absorption merger of Coop Chemical in 2015, it strengthened its management foundation and capital alliances, continuing growth based on ties with the JA Group and Marubeni. In technology development, research on organic fertilizers and chemical products is advancing, with a focus on environmental considerations and sustainable agriculture technologies. It operates multiple branches and factories nationwide, balancing regionally rooted services with a national supply system. In the medium to long term, it aims for environmental impact reduction, new technology development, and adaptation to agricultural DX, pursuing business diversification and revenue base strengthening. It also emphasizes contributions to local communities, promoting agricultural support and collaboration with local industries.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Holds major share in organic fertilizers in the domestic fertilizer industry
- Long-established company originating from Katakura Industrial Group with over 100 years of history
- Marubeni and Norinchukin Bank as major shareholders with capital participation
- Diversified operations including cosmetic raw materials and feed beyond fertilizers
- Nationwide presence with multiple factories and research institutes
- Expanded share through absorption merger of former Coop Chemical
- Advances R&D themed on stable and sustainable agriculture
- Strong focus on seedling support through agricultural culture soil supply
- Strengthens local agricultural support centered on JA channels
- Head office in Kudan Kita, Chiyoda-ku, connecting urban and agriculture
Hidden Connections
- Maximizes use of JA Group's capital and sales network to build agricultural trust
- Ensures stable raw material procurement through ties with Marubeni Group
- Links with Norinchukin Bank to support agricultural finance
- Historical connection with Katakura Industrial passes down technical know-how
- Efficient product supply to local agriculture via specialty stores and cooperatives
- Cosmetic raw materials business as applied research from agricultural materials technology
- Extensive soil analysis technology serves as foundation for agricultural DX support
- Technology fusion of fertilizers and feed creates unique market competitiveness
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Increasing market needs for sustainable agriculture
- Expansion of demand for environmentally friendly fertilizers amid stricter regulations
- High value-added through spread of agricultural DX technologies
- Support for livestock industry revival in feed business
- New market development in chemical products and agricultural cosmetic raw materials
- Market stability through JA Group sales network enhancement
- Effects of government agricultural support policy expansion and subsidies
- Advancement and dissemination of soil and crop analysis services
- Demand for green products from environmentally and health-conscious consumers
- Growth in global organic fertilizer and agricultural materials market
Strategic Goals
- Achieve over 50% share in domestic fertilizer market
- Over 70% sales ratio of low-environmental-impact products
- Double annual sales of analysis services
- Make agricultural DX-compatible products mainstream
- Aggressive entry into new cosmetic raw materials market
- Strengthen nationwide sales network and improve customer satisfaction
- Deepen collaboration with JA Group for stable supply
- Establish sustainable management through coexistence with local communities
- Maintain R&D investment at over 5% of annual sales
- Target over 70 billion yen in sales by 2030
Business Segments
Fertilizer Manufacturing and Sales
- Overview
- Provides integrated supply from manufacturing to sales of fertilizers, addressing diverse agricultural needs.
- Competitiveness
- Diverse fertilizer lineup and nationwide supply network
- Customers
-
- Agricultural producers
- Agricultural cooperatives - JA Group
- Agricultural material retailers
- Products
-
- Compound fertilizers
- Chemical fertilizers
- Organic fertilizers
Feed Manufacturing and Sales
- Overview
- Supports healthy livestock rearing through manufacturing and sales of high-quality feed for livestock.
- Competitiveness
- Feed development capabilities leveraging fermentation technology
- Customers
-
- Livestock farmers
- Feed trading companies
- Livestock-related companies
- Products
-
- Fermented feed
- Compound feed
- Special feed
Cosmetic Raw Materials Business
- Overview
- Provides high-quality raw materials to the cosmetics industry, contributing to product performance improvement.
- Competitiveness
- High safety and quality
- Customers
-
- Cosmetic manufacturers
- Raw material trading companies
- Products
-
- Natural extracts
- Antioxidant materials
Soil Analysis and Crop Analysis Services
- Overview
- Supports rationalization of agricultural production through advanced analysis services linked to agricultural materials.
- Competitiveness
- Precise analysis technology and extensive data accumulation
- Customers
-
- Agricultural research institutions
- Agricultural cooperatives
- Agricultural corporations
- Products
-
- Soil analysis
- Compost analysis
- Crop analysis
Analytical Reagents and Inorganic Materials Supply
- Overview
- Provides high-quality materials to a wide range of industries beyond agriculture.
- Competitiveness
- Multi-purpose product development
- Customers
-
- Manufacturing industry
- Research institutions
- Products
-
- Inorganic materials
- Reagents
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- Leading share in domestic organic fertilizers
- Strong ties with JA Group
- Nationwide branch and factory network
- Diverse agricultural materials product lineup
- Abundant technological development capabilities and analysis services
- Reliability based on long history
- Stable management base through capital alliances
- Development of environmentally friendly fertilizer products
- Comprehensive agricultural support system
Competitive Advantages
- Rapid response through nationwide sales and supply system
- Financial strength from capital ties with Marubeni, Norinchukin, etc.
- Technological superiority covering both organic and chemical fertilizers
- Strong customer base utilizing JA Group sales network
- Added value through soil and crop analysis
- Diversification strategy including seedling culture soil and feed raw materials
- Broad product lineup addressing wide customer needs
- Active in introducing advanced technologies with R&D bases
- Pursuit of sustainability with long-term environmentally designed products
Threats
- Market contraction due to declining domestic agricultural population
- Price competition from overseas fertilizer and agricultural material manufacturers
- Risks from strengthened environmental and pesticide regulations
- Instability in crop production due to natural disasters
- Risks from rising raw material prices and exchange rate fluctuations
- Decline in competitiveness due to delays in technological innovation
- Challenges in new market development
- Rapid changes in agricultural DX and smart agriculture technologies
- Delays in responding to sustainability demands
Innovations
2023: Development of Environmentally Friendly Organic Fertilizers
- Overview
- Commercialized low-environmental-impact organic fertilizers with enhanced soil improvement effects.
- Impact
- Highly evaluated by customers, contributing to sustainable agriculture support
2022: Advanced Analysis Commissioning Services
- Overview
- Successfully introduced AI-utilizing soil and crop analysis technologies.
- Impact
- Improved analysis accuracy and speed, enhancing customer satisfaction
2021: Quality Improvement of Fermented Feed
- Overview
- Improved feed fermentation process to enhance nutritional value and safety.
- Impact
- Contributed to share expansion in the livestock industry
2020: New Development of Cosmetic Raw Materials
- Overview
- Developed and launched natural-derived antioxidant ingredients.
- Impact
- Increased inquiries from the cosmetics industry
Sustainability
- Development and promotion of low-environmental-impact fertilizers
- Support for sustainable agriculture through collaboration with local farming
- Promotion of waste reduction and recycling technologies
- Environmental対応 for packaging materials using eco-materials
- Research on fertilizers promoting soil microorganism activation