Kao Corp. (Tokyo) has built a new tertiary amine production plant in Pasadena, Texas, the opening ceremony for which took place on August 22, 2025. The new plant, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons, will further enhance stable supply for the U.S. market, which is expected to grow in the mid- to long-term. In addition, local production in the U.S. will improve the efficiency of Kao’s supply chain and reduce transportation-related CO2 emissions.
Kao’s new tertiary amine facility in Texas
Tertiary amines are important chemical ingredients used in surfactants such as disinfectants and cleaners. Until now, Kao has had the world’s largest production capacity, with three production sites in Japan, the Philippines and Germany employing Kao’s unique technology to produce tertiary amines of superior quality. Kao uses tertiary amines in its own products and has also supplied industries around the world through its Chemical Business. Its new U.S. plant will create a three-production-site system with plants in the U.S., Europe and Asia, to ensure a more stable and speedier supply of tertiary amines to global markets.
Construction work on the Pasadena plant took two and a half years, and I am very happy to see the work successfully completed. The plant, which combines Kao’s unique technologies with a long-running safety record and quality control knowhow, will be the key point of a global supply chain ensuring a more stable supply of tertiary amines not only for the North American market but also for a broad range of industries all over the world.
The Pasadena site, where the plant is located, covers an area of 45 hectares, and Kao is also considering utilizing the site not only for tertiary amine production but also as a platform for working together with outside partners to produce derivatives. By leveraging this platform, we are confident it will strengthen the value chain of the entire ecosystem.
The Chemical Business will continue resolutely taking on the challenges to fulfill its role in building the cornerstone of Kao’s global growth.