Japan's chemical industry is at a major turning point amid changes in the domestic and external environment, including decarbonization, electrification, and progress toward a circular economy, as well as supply chain restructuring and population decline. At major chemical manufacturers, initiatives that balance sustainability with stronger competitiveness are accelerating as they review research and development priority fields in order to rebuild business portfolios and improve profitability. A shift in research and development resources is progressing away from a petrochemical dependent structure toward new growth fields such as electronics materials, mobility, healthcare, environmental and energy solutions, and biomass and recycling technologies.

At 18 major domestic chemical manufacturers, business performance and operating profit margins improved in fiscal 2024, while research and development expenditures remained at approximately ¥967 billion and the ratio to sales remained in the low 3% range. Companies are concentrating limited resources on priority fields, pursuing efficiency, and strengthening the strategic management of research and development as a source of medium to long term competitiveness.

In addition to green chemistry centered on decarbonization and resource circulation, applied research is becoming more active in growth fields such as semiconductor and battery materials, functional polymers, and high performance composites. The introduction of digital technologies and materials informatics, the expansion of research and development networks using domestic and overseas locations, and open innovation through collaboration with universities and startups are also progressing. Development systems that provide solutions starting from customer issues are expanding, accelerating the evolution from material suppliers into problem solving partners.

This survey covers 18 major domestic chemical manufacturers and organizes and analyzes business performance, research and development policies, structures, expenditures, personnel, trends, patent applications, management plans, and research and development strategies in order to understand the current state and future direction of research and development.

Survey Overview

Survey Purpose

Japan's chemical industry is at a major turning point amid changes in the domestic and external environment, including decarbonization, electrification, and progress toward a circular economy, as well as supply chain restructuring and population decline. At major chemical manufacturers, initiatives that balance sustainability with stronger competitiveness are accelerating as they review research and development (R&D) priority fields in order to rebuild business portfolios and improve profitability. A shift in research and development resources is progressing away from a petrochemical dependent structure toward new growth fields such as electronics materials, mobility, healthcare, environmental and energy solutions, and biomass and recycling technologies.

Looking at recent business performance and research and development investment trends, aggregate sales of 18 major domestic chemical manufacturers declined from ¥29.5 trillion in fiscal 2022 to ¥28.2 trillion in fiscal 2023, but recovered to ¥29.4 trillion in fiscal 2024. Aggregate operating profit also fell to a profit margin of 5.1% in fiscal 2023, but improved to 8.1% in fiscal 2024, and the effects of demand recovery and a shift toward high value added businesses are beginning to emerge. In addition, research and development expenditures of the 18 companies have remained at approximately ¥967 billion, while the ratio to sales has been stable in the low 3% range. On the other hand, changes in investment and reviews of personnel composition are progressing at individual companies, and moves to concentrate on priority fields and improve efficiency within limited resources are becoming evident. This shows that the companies position research and development not merely as a cost but as a source of medium to long term competitiveness, and are strengthening strategic management through selection and concentration.

At domestic chemical manufacturers, in addition to promoting green chemistry centered on decarbonization and resource circulation, applied research in growth fields such as semiconductor and battery materials, functional polymers, and high performance composites is becoming more active. Changes are also evident in the way research is conducted, including the introduction of digital technologies and materials informatics, the expansion of research and development networks using domestic and overseas locations, and open innovation through collaboration with universities and startups. Development systems that provide solutions starting from customer issues are also expanding, accelerating the evolution from material suppliers into problem solving partners.

This survey report aims to understand the current state and future direction of research and development at 18 major domestic chemical manufacturers and to analyze each company's strategies from multiple perspectives.

Main Survey Content

• Business performance analysis
• Research and development policies
• Research and development structures
• Research and development expenditures and personnel
• Research and development trends
• Patent application status
• Management plans and research and development strategies

Survey Target

18 major chemical manufacturers in Japan

Survey Method

The survey organizes and analyzes each company's business performance, research and development policies, research and development structures, research and development expenditures and personnel, research and development trends, patent application status, management plans, and research and development strategies.

Survey Period

November 2025 to March 2026

Report Format

A4 format, 260 pages

Publication Date

March 24, 2026

Tabulation Section

• 1. Scope of Survey
  • 1) Survey Objective
  • 2) Target Companies
  • 3) Survey Period
  • 4) Survey Method
• 2. Business Performance Analysis
• 3. Research and Development Expenditures and Personnel
• 4. Research and Development Trends
• 5. Patent Application Analysis
• 6. Management Plans, Research and Development Policies, and Strategies

Survey Items (Individual Company Section)

• 1. Business Performance Analysis
• 2. Research and Development Policies
• 3. Research and Development Structure
  • 1) Research and Development Organization
  • 2) Research and Development Locations
• 4. Research and Development Expenditures and Personnel
  • 1) Research and Development Expenditures and Personnel
  • 2) Research and Development Expenditures by Segment
• 5. Patent Application Analysis
• 6. Research and Development Trends
• 7. Management Plans and Research and Development Strategies

Individual Company Section

• AGC
• DIC
• UBE
• Asahi Kasei
• Kaneka
• Kuraray
• Shin Etsu Chemical
• Sumitomo Chemical
• Sekisui Chemical
• Daicel
• Teijin
• Tosoh
• Toray
• Nitto Denko
• Mitsui Chemicals
• Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
• Mitsubishi Chemical Group
• Resonac Holdings