Forest Products, General Merchandise & Logistics Division

North American Construction Materials Business

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This Division Company produces and sells fences and decks in the building material markets of the United States and, Canada which are expected to continue their solid growth based on the stable growth of the population.
ITOCHU also jointly manages residential construction material manufacturers with Daiken Corporation, a major building materials manufacturer.
Leveraging the knowledge it has accumulated over many years, ITOCHU will not only continue to expand its existing businesses but also seek to strengthen its value chain through activities such as the acquisition of peripheral businesses in pursuit of even greater earning capacity and higher corporate value.

Paper and Pulp Business

ITOCHU is pushing forward with its paper and pulp business as a global pulp trader on the foundation of the pulp sales networks it has established in Asia, Europe, and North America. ITOCHU has a stake in Metsä Fibre Oy (MF). Based in Finland, MF is one of the world's largest softwood pulp manufacturers as it boasts a production volume of 3.9 million tons. Leveraging its sales capabilities, ITOCHU is also contributing to the improvement of MF's value.
In addition, ITOCHU subsidiary ITOCHU Pulp & Paper Corp. deals in woodchips, paper, and paper products.
In recent years, ITOCHU has also focused on cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and environmentally friendly new wood materials. It has invested in Paptic Oy (Paptic), a Finnish manufacturer of packaging raw materials, and in Transcend Packaging Ltd. in the United Kingdom, which operates a plastic-free food packaging business. Through these activities, ITOCHU is pushing forward with the introduction of new technologies to the market.

Natural Rubber and Ceramics

Rubber: In Indonesia, ITOCHU operates a natural rubber processing business. ITOCHU is promoting PROJECT TREE, an initiative whose goal is to improve the traceability and sustainability of the natural rubber industry.

Ceramics: ITOCHU sells slag and other raw materials for environmentally friendly building materials all over the world, including Europe, the United States, and Asia-Pacific region, thus helping limit CO2 emissions.
In addition, ITOCHU Ceratech Corp., a subsidiary of ITOCHU, manufactures and sells CERABEADS artificial foundry sand used to create casting mold and AERONITE, a hydrogen-related catalyst. CERABEADS has a competitive edge because of its dimensional precision, reproductive strength, and durability, and AERONITE features industry-leading durability and reaction efficiency. Leveraging its proprietary technology development activities, this company aims to be a global company in its niche in ceramics-based industrial materials.

Mobility business

ITOCHU operates an automotive aftermarket business including the sale of tires, the purchase and sale of used cars, and vehicle maintenance (including bodywork and paint).
WECARS, which started operation in May 2024 with the concept of “customers first”, support automobile users across Japan, in all aspects of their lifetime with their cars, from purchase to maintenance and sales.
Further, in the United Kingdom, which is a strategic area, ITOCHU operates Kwik-Fit, one of Europe’s largest automobile maintenance and tire retail chain, is developing the sales network to enhance the business. It is also engaged in reducing waste through tire collection and promoting the sale of recycled products, aiming to contribute to the sustainability of the entire supply chain.

Logistics Business

ITOCHU LOGISTICS CORP., the core logistics company for the ITOCHU Group, operates a global logistics business centered on land, sea, and air transportation and the operation of logistics centers as a logistics company affiliated with a trading company. Most notably, the company entered China and India ahead of other companies, and it boasts one of the largest logistics networks operated by a Japanese logistics company.
Further, this company provides comprehensive services as a multi-functional team that is capable of fulfilling commercial distribution, investment, commercialization, and other needs, beyond its logistics capabilities.
Taking advantage of its strengths as a general trading company, ITOCHU has launched a business building new supply chain networks to solve the issues that the industry as a whole faces through activities such as establishing a shared logistics network for the industry.