Marubeni Corporation

Update from Marubeni President & CEO Omoto:

Marubeni is proud to support youth education and development through our scholarship fund programs in the Philippines (our first program, established in 1989), Indonesia, Brazil, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.  For more details, check out our Scope series video on our scholarships in the Philippines (https://lnkd.in/dKMz3KEu) and our webpage on the Community & Society pillar of our social contribution activities (https://lnkd.in/dunWGHvY). 

Today, December 1, is the 76th anniversary of Marubeni’s establishment as a modern corporation, but our history actually goes back to 1858, the year Chubei Itoh started a traveling linen sales business in what is now the town of Toyosato in Shiga Prefecture, an area in western Japan near Kyoto and Osaka. Because of this, Marubeni considers 1949 our “(modern) establishment year” and 1858 our “founding year.” Over decades that followed our founding year, Chubei Itoh’s business underwent many evolutions, including as the companies “Benchu” and “Marubeni Shoten,” often basing business out of Osaka while maintaining ties to Toyosato. In fact, Chubei Itoh’s nephew Tetsujiro Furukawa, who built the foundation of the modern Marubeni’s trading business while serving as the senior managing director of Marubeni Shoten between 1921 and 1940, was passionate about educating Toyosato’s children and donated a significant proportion of his own wealth to fund the construction of Toyosato Elementary School in 1937. Today, the local community still uses the building, which houses a library, day care center, and the Toyosato Board of Education and is just across the yard from one of the town’s two modern elementary schools. While we have come a long way from our first textile business and the days of Tetsujiro Furukawa, we remember and honor our roots in Toyosato through our modern-day connections and exchanges with the town. One of these initiatives is particularly poignant given Furukawa’s devotion to children’s education: welcoming sixth-grade elementary school students from Toyosato to our Osaka Branch every year, as we did last week, to learn more about the Marubeni of the past, present, and future. Through interactive presentations on Marubeni’s history, business, contributions to achieving the SDGs, and innovation, we encouraged the students to dream big and contribute to something that will continue to grow and improve the lives of people all over the world, just like Toyosato’s own Chubei Itoh and Tetsujiro Furukawa.    Photos: Elementary school students from Toyosato visiting Marubeni’s Osaka Branch in late November 2025; Marubeni’s founder Chubei Itoh; Marubeni Shoten’s senior managing director Tetsujiro Furukawa; the (former) Toyosato Elementary School building funded by Furukawa

Update from Marubeni President & CEO Omoto:

Update from Marubeni President & CEO Omoto:

Completion of Baked Confectionery Manufacturing Plant in Vietnam and Commencement of Local Production of Country Ma’am Cookies and Other Products Summary： Fujiya Vietnam, a joint venture between Fujiya and Marubeni, has completed construction of a baked confectionery manufacturing plant in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam. Local production of Fujiya brand baked confectionery products, including ”Country Ma’am” cookies, have commenced as of November 2025, with sales to center on Vietnam and other countries in Asia. The Plant serves as Fujiya’s second overseas production base (the other being in China), with a site area of approximately 31,000 m2 and a building area of approximately 11,000 m2. It includes manufacturing technology and quality control systems equivalent to those in Japan, ensuring a stable production base for the supply of high-quality Japanese brand confectionery. Additionally, products manufactured at the Plant feature flavor adjustments and package design modifications to appeal to local consumer preferences, with plans to continue developing new flavors moving forward.   Going Forward： Fujiya’s overseas business currently centers on the manufacturing and sales of confectionery within China. With the establishment of this new Vietnam Plant as its second overseas production base, the company will continue its international expansion by providing high quality products from Vietnam to other Asian countries with growth potential, thereby solidifying and expanding the Fujiya brand. Meanwhile, in Marubeni’s Mid-Term Management Strategy (GC2027), the company is focusing on Strategic Platform Businesses (businesses with “Growth Domains x High Added Value x Scalability”). This Project provides high value-added baked confectionery to the growing Asian confectionery market, with the goal of expanding future exports to other countries and continued business growth. Through the operation of this Plant, the companies will leverage Fujiya’s cultivated product development capabilities and manufacturing expertise, along with Marubeni’s accumulated knowledge of food sales and marketing in Vietnam, to contribute to the stable supply and sales of high value-added baked confectionery, including ”Country Ma'am,” within Vietnam’s growing confectionery market. Furthermore, in addition to strengthening sales within Vietnam, they will expand exports to other countries, primarily in Asia, aiming to expand the scale of Fujiya Vietnam'’ business and enhance its profitability. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gHbYU8je Click here for information on Marubeni's Food & Agri Business Division: https://lnkd.in/gFjdfw8i #Marubeni  

Completion of Demonstration Project for Green Hydrogen Production, Transportation, and Utilization in Australia and Indonesia   Summary: Marubeni has completed a demonstration project in South Australia, involving the production of low-cost green hydrogen, the transportation of hydrogen to Indonesia using metal hydride*1 tanks, and the utilization of hydrogen through fuel cells.   Background and Significance: The Project was selected for the Ministry of Environment, Japan (MOEJ)’s “Pilot Project for Comprehensive Support throughout the Whole Hydrogen Supply Chain Abroad”*2 and commenced in January 2022. The Project demonstrated both the effectiveness of metal hydrides as a hydrogen transportation method and the feasibility of building a supply chain from production through to end-use.   Going Forward: Marubeni will continue its efforts to utilize the hydrogen produced, including within Australia. To date, green hydrogen has been supplied to a natural gas power plant adjacent to the production facility in South Australia, enabling Australia’s first hydrogen co-firing trial from September 2025. Marubeni has entered into a hydrogen sales agreement with the plant owner, Iberdrola Australia, and will continue to supply low-cost hydrogen produced from surplus renewable power as a co-firing fuel for gas turbines. In addition, through the operation of the battery system introduced for hydrogen production, Marubeni also aims to provide grid-balancing functions. Going forward, Marubeni aims to help realize a sustainable society by building and promoting projects that contribute to decarbonization, such as the supply and utilization of clean energy.   *1 Technology used to safely store and transport hydrogen (hydrogen is absorbed through cooling and pressurizing and is discharged through heating and decompression) *2 Financing program for pilot projects which promote the production of green hydrogen in collaboration with a country where renewable energy is abundant and then transport that hydrogen for use in island nations or other similar countries. The purpose is to achieve Japan’s GHG emissions reduction targets through the JCM (Joint Credit Mechanism) initiative by promoting the production and utilization of green hydrogen in anticipation of future ripple effects.   Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g3S93wte   Click here for information on Marubeni's Power & Infrastructure Services Division: https://lnkd.in/gU5_wNR8 #Marubeni

Today, we’d like to highlight our Finance, Leasing & Real Estate Business Division, which pursues businesses that offer industry-leading products, services, and technology solutions for B2B and B2C clients around the world. Check out the slideshow below to discover our businesses in areas like auto finance, aircraft and aircraft engine leasing, commercial vehicle fleet management, next gen finance/femtech, and more!  Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g4gdEYbc 

Marubeni to Proceed with Additional Investment in Thailand’s Leading Beauty and Personal Care Brand Company Karmarts Public Company Limited   Summary： Marubeni today announced its decision to proceed with an additional investment in Karmarts Public Company Limited, a leading beauty and personal care brand company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Marubeni currently holds an 18% stake in Karmarts and intends to acquire up to an additional 10% of the company’s shares through a partial tender offer (PTO) under local securities regulations, for a maximum consideration of THB 1.25 billion (approximately JPY 6.0 billion). The PTO is planned for February 2026 and is expected to proceed upon tenders totaling 4.5% or more.   Going Forward： Upon successful completion of the PTO, Marubeni intends to deepen its partnership with Karmarts, accelerating initiatives to expand sales channels—particularly across Southeast Asia—and to pursue growth opportunities including capital and business alliances, thereby enhancing Karmarts’ corporate value. Going forward, Marubeni will continue to promote business expansion in the beauty and personal care sector, where sustained global market growth is anticipated.   Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8Je-_3w Click here for information on Marubeni's Next Generation Business Development Division: https://lnkd.in/gUNQxWxe     #Marubeni

Today, we’d like to highlight our Power & Infrastructure Services Division, which pursues businesses that support key services and systems to enrich people’s lives, from electricity and water to railways and roads. Check out the slideshow below to discover our businesses in areas like power and infrastructure services, business, and funding as well as new energy.  Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gU5_wNR8