Sojitz Corporation

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Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division

In addition to upstream investment and trading in metal resources and ferrous materials, the Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division has made a full-scale entry into the circular economy field, which includes recycling businesses, and this division is working to create and promote new businesses that respond to social needs.

Division Strategy

Against the backdrop of global warming and the accelerating shift toward the decarbonization of society seen in recent years, we will transition to sustainable businesses in the fields of metals and resources. We will also strengthen our efforts in the field of recycling with an eye toward the circular economies of the near future.

Osamu Matsuura

Executive Officer, COO
Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division

With an eye to the changing social needs arising amid increasingly rapid global warming and the accelerated trend toward decarbonization, the Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division is transitioning to a more sustainable business model while ramping up its initiatives in the recycling field in preparation for the emergence of a circular economy. Specific initiatives include the development of projects based on the three focus fields defined in Medium-Term Management Plan 2023. In the circular economy field, the first focus field, we are cultivating substantive business in North America through our investment in an electronic equipment recycling business and the acceleration of related initiatives. In the second focus field, our efforts to create new businesses that respond to social needs related to decarbonization, rechargeable batteries, and new materials have included the establishment of Carbon Xtract Corporation to conduct research, development, and mass production related to Direct Air Capture ("DAC") technologies for directly capturing CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. We will also strive to develop and achieve monetization of our manufacturing business for the hydrogen fluoride that is an essential material for semiconductors, our business supplying raw materials used in rechargeable battery production, and our rechargeable battery reuse and recycling business. Our third focus field is the stable supply of unique resources. In this field, we are moving ahead with the acquisition of cost-competitive upstream interests. For example, the division has carried out initiatives including asset replacement of thermal coal interests and will continue to build a portfolio of high-quality upstream assets.

By utilizing digital technologies, the Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division will strive to improve the quality, cost competitiveness, and efficiency of its mineral resource, steel product, and other existing business fields to strengthen its frameworks for producing stable earnings.

Strengths of the Division

External Environment

Opportunities

  • Growth in demand for mineral resources, steel, and industrial materials centered on emerging countries
  • Demand for new products arising from strengthened and revised environmental regulations
  • Increased demand for new technologies and materials that contribute to the development of a sustainable society
  • Higher demand for eco-friendly businesses, such as recycling and by-product managemen

Risks

  • Reduction to revenues from fluctuations in resource prices and exchange rates and inflation
  • Rising geopolitical risks, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, resource nationalism, and trade friction between the United States and China
  • Substitute products and strengthened regulations resulting in lower product competitiveness
  • Global trend toward carbon taxes and other stringent environmental regulations

Businesses

Business Map

Niobium mine: CBMM (Brazil)

DAC technology(image)

Products formed using 3D metal printer
(JAMPT Corporation)

■Coking Coal and Steel Products Businesses

In order to achieve sustainable growth and address rising global environmental awareness, the Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division is quickly withdrawing from thermal coal businesses. At the same time, we are ramping up production and pursuing cost reductions at the Gregory Crinum coal mine, Sojitz’s flagship coking coal mine in Australia.
Making use of the mine’s existing infrastructure, and our accumulated expertise as the sole general trading company with experience operating its own mine, we will venture into contract mining in surrounding mines. Meanwhile, in the steel products business of Metal One Corporation, which Sojitz founded together with Mitsubishi Corporation, we are pursuing synergies while collaborating and providing support.

■Circular Economy Businesses

Sojitz is growing circular economy businesses that promote the reuse and recycling of resources based on the trends toward decarbonization and resource recycling. Our initiatives on this front in Japan have included investment in IT asset disposition company TES-AMM JAPAN K.K. and polyethylene terephthalate chemical recycling company PET REFINE TECHNOLOGY, Co., Ltd. In addition, we have acquired equity interest in and participate in the management of eCycle Solutions Inc., a recycling business based in Canada handling household appliances and electronic devices. In such circular economy businesses for recycling metal and other waste, we aim to develop businesses with a certain degree of scale in order to make contributions to the realization of a recycling-oriented society.

■Businesses That Respond to Social Needs

We will pursue the creation of new businesses in the fields of rechargeable batteries and decarbonization, where there is great social need. Initiatives currently in progress include hydrogen-related demonstration projects and the development of niobium titanium oxide-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. In addition, we have also launched a rechargeable battery reuse and recycling business as well as initiatives in emissions trading and CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage). Sojitz has established Carbon Xtract Corporation with the purpose of carrying out R&D and achieving social implementation of direct carbon capture (DAC) technology. We are also moving forward on plans to enter the manufacturing business for fluorinated products beginning in FY2026. These materials make up an essential part of the manufacturing supply chain for products such as semiconductors and next-generation batteries. Moreover, 3D metal printing business operator JAMPT Corporation is responding to demand for highmix, low-volume production of high-precision products. Uses for this company’s 3D metal printing approach include the development of lighter weight automotive components as well as dental applications.

Organization

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