History

Established as Ihara Agrochemical Co., Ltd.

Inheriting the spirit of "manufacturing agricultural chemicals for farmers" of its predecessor, the Citrus Industry Association, Ihara Agrochemical Co., Ltd. was established on June 20, 1949 in Shimizu City (now Shizuoka City), Shizuoka. This spirit has been passed down through the years to the present-day Kumiai Chemical Industry and is the driving force behind its development.

Rikengreen Co., Ltd. established

Capital participation in Nihon Printing Industry Co., Ltd.

Development of the first domestically produced agricultural chemical fungicide, Asozin (active ingredient name: MAS)

Asozin, a rice sheath blight control product, further strengthened the company's developmental capabilities as it was establishing itself as a comprehensive agrochemical manufacturer. Asozin, the first domestically produced agrochemical, made a significant contribution to our business performance, becoming a hit product with an 80% share of the sheath blight control product market within 10 years of its launch.

Stock listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

Kumika Logistics Co., Ltd. established

Company name changed to Ihara Agrochemical Co., Ltd.

Although the trade name Ihara Agrochemical, named after Ihara County, Shizuoka Prefecture, where the company was founded, had become well known throughout Japan, the trade name in Japanese was changed from the original Chinese characters for "Ihara" to phonetic katakana characters to make it easier to understand for everyone.

Ihara Construction Industry Co., Ltd. established

Development of Kitazin (active ingredient name: EBP)

Rice blast fungicide Kitazin was developed. The product was named after the founder's name, Kitashi Mochizuki. Two years later, in 1967, Kitazin-P, an improved version of Kitazin, was launched and sales grew significantly.

Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. established

With increasing demand for Kitazin, Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was established as a Kitazin active ingredient manufacturing company. The plant was built in Fujikawa Town, Ihara County (now Fuji City), Shizuoka Prefecture, where there was convenient access to railroads and roads, and where it was more feasible to acquire raw materials and transport the ingredients, as well as having abundant cooling water necessary for the synthesis plant.

Company name changed to Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Relocated the Head Office from Shizuoka Prefecture to Chiyoda City, Tokyo

Business merger with Toa Agrochemical Co., Ltd.

As a result of the business merger with Toa Agrochemical, the company changed its name to the current Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and relocated its head office from Shizuoka to Chiyoda City, Tokyo. We have become one of the largest agrochemical manufacturers in Japan, with annual sales exceeding 14.5 billion yen.

Development of rice herbicide Saturn (active ingredient: Thiobencarb)

Onomichi Kumika Industry Co., Ltd. established

NEP Co., Ltd. established

Iharabens Industria E Comercio Ltda. (currently K-I Chemical do Brasil Ltda.) established

K.I Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. established

K-I Information System Co., Ltd. established

Relocated the Head Office to Taito City, Tokyo (current location)

Ihara Daiben Co., Ltd. established

Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

K-I Chemical U.S.A. Inc. established

Iharanikkei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. established

K.I Chemical Research Institut Co., Ltd. established

Development of plant growth regulator KIM-112 (active ingredient name: prohexadione-calcium)

Development of cotton herbicide Staple (active ingredient name: pyrithiobac-sodium) (United States)

• Staple was developed with DuPont.

Development of rice herbicide Nominee (active ingredient name: bispyribac-sodium) (the Philippines)

Nominee, developed as a herbicide for direct-seeded rice, has been widely accepted in Southeast Asia and Latin America, contributing not only to agriculture but also to the Quality of Life.

Development of rice herbicide pyriminobac-methyl

Development of microbial pesticide Ecohope (active ingredient name: trichoderma atroviride)

Development of fungicide KIF-230 (benthiavalicarb-isopropyl)

K-I Chemical Europe SA/NV established

Development of rice herbicide pyrimisulfan

Development of field crop and turf herbicide AXEEV (active ingredient name: pyroxasulfone) (Australia)

Since its launch in 2011, the field crop and turf herbicide AXEEV has grown steadily as a specific treatment for weeds resistant to existing products and is a major driving force behind Kumiai Chemical Industry's performance today.

Development of fungicide for fruits and vegetables pyribencarb

Ihara Chemical Shanghai Co., Ltd. (currently Kumiai Chemical Shanghai Co., Ltd.) established

Kumika Korea Co., Ltd. established

Development of rice and turf herbicide fenoxasulfone

Iharanikkei Chemical (Thailand) Co., Ltd. established

Business merger with Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

In May 2017, Kumiai Chemical Industry, which had been engaged in manufacturing and sales in the agrochemical business, and Ihara Chemical Industry, which had been engaged in manufacturing active ingredients, merged to form the new Kumiai Chemical Industry. In November of the same year, K.I Chemical Research Institute, which was in charge of creation of agrochemicals, was merged. The company is now engaged in fine chemicals business inherited from Ihara Chemical Industry, along with the core of the agrochemical business which handles everything from creation to manufacturing and sales of agrochemicals.

Merger with K.I Chemical Research Institut Co., Ltd.

PI Kumiai Private Ltd. established

Development of rice herbicide Effeeda (active ingredient name: fenquinotrione)

The new rice herbicide Effeeda was launched in full scale in 2019 as a key product of Kumiai Chemical Industry in the domestic market, with its high efficacy against a wide range of plant species and safety for rice plants.

June 20th - 70th anniversary of Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Rikengreen Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary

Acquisition of bensulfuron-methyl business in Asia Pacific region excluding China

Development of rice fungicide DISARTA (active ingredient name: dichlobentiazox)

Acquired exclusive sales rights for the pencycuron business in Japan

Acquisition of Asiatic Agricultural Industries Pte. Ltd. shares

Listed on to the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market