Exhibiting at HOTELEX Shanghai 2025

COFCO Biochemical (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of COFCO Corporation, one of China's largest state-owned agribusiness conglomerates. The Chengdu-based division serves as a critical part of COFCO’s biochemical sector, focusing on the development and production of high-performance, sustainable biochemical products derived from agricultural feedstock.

Company Background

COFCO Biochemical (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. is positioned within COFCO’s broader strategy to enhance value-added agricultural processing. Leveraging COFCO’s vast upstream agricultural network and downstream distribution infrastructure, the Chengdu facility is a hub for advanced biochemical manufacturing. It supports both domestic and international markets with food-grade and industrial-grade biochemical compounds.

Core Business and Product Offerings

The company specializes in processing corn and other biomass into a wide array of biochemical and starch-based products. Its product range spans across food and beverage applications, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and renewable energy sectors.

Major Product Categories:

• Sweeteners:

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup (F55)
  • Maltose
  • Flavored Syrup

• Starch Products:

  • Native Corn Starch
  • Modified Starch (used in paper, textile, and food processing)

• Biochemicals:

  • Citric Acid (food-grade and industrial)
  • Lactic Acid (used in food preservation and pharmaceuticals)
  • Polylactic Acid (PLA) – a biodegradable plastic alternative

• Alcohol Products:

  • Edible Alcohol (used in food and beverage industries)
  • Fuel Ethanol (used in energy and automotive sectors)
  • Alcohol Disinfectant Solution

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

COFCO Biochemical’s value lies in its:

• Vertical Integration: End-to-end control over sourcing, processing, and distribution
• Sustainability Leadership: Pioneering the production of bio-based and biodegradable alternatives like PLA
• Scale of Operation: Part of one of the world’s largest food and agribusiness groups
• Technology-Driven Efficiency: Investment in advanced fermentation and enzymatic technology

Financials and Market Scale

As part of the COFCO Corporation, which reported revenues exceeding CNY 530 billion (USD 74 billion) in 2023, the biochemical segment is a significant contributor. The Chengdu facility contributes to:

• Over 500,000 metric tons/year of sweetener and starch output
• More than 100,000 metric tons/year of citric and lactic acid combined
• Fuel ethanol production capacity exceeding 200,000 metric tons/year

This production scale underpins its role in serving national beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers as well as international export partners.

International Shipments and Export Activity

Based on data from global trade intelligence platforms such as Volza and ImportYeti, COFCO Biochemical (Chengdu) has been actively exporting to regions including:

• Europe – for PLA and citric acid applications in sustainable packaging
• South Korea and Japan – for food-grade sweeteners
• Southeast Asia and India – for ethanol and starch derivatives

Estimated annual export volumes from the Chengdu plant:

• PLA and lactic acid: ~30,000 MT
• Citric acid: ~25,000 MT
• Sweeteners: ~50,000 MT

Target Markets

• Food & Beverage Manufacturers: Sweeteners and citric acid
• Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Companies: Lactic acid and alcohol solutions
• Industrial and Bioplastics Sector: PLA and modified starch
• Fuel and Energy Sector: Bioethanol blends for cleaner energy

Certifications and Compliance

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
• FSSC 22000 – Food Safety Certification
• GMP Certification – For pharmaceutical-grade products
• Halal and Kosher – For global compliance

Capabilities and Infrastructure

• Integrated processing lines for simultaneous fermentation and refining
• Dedicated R&D center for developing advanced bioplastics and nutraceuticals
• Large-scale ethanol distillation units
• Automated packing and export logistics systems

Major Achievements

• Pioneered one of China’s first large-scale PLA bioplastic projects
• Winner of the Green Industry Award 2022 by China National Light Industry Council
• Strategic supplier to over 100 multinational F&B and pharma clients
• Developed proprietary high-yield strain technology for lactic acid production

COFCO Biochemical (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. represents the convergence of sustainability, scale, and science within China’s rapidly evolving bio-industrial sector. Its strong manufacturing base, coupled with COFCO's strategic ecosystem, empowers it to serve as a cornerstone for the global shift toward renewable, plant-based biochemicals.