TOKYO -- Japanese trader Mitsubishi Corp. has begun
full production of an antioxidant food additive in Brunei.
The
product, a compound called astaxanthin, has the antioxidant effect of being a
check on deterioration, and demand for it is expected to grow across Asia for
use in health foods and cosmetics. Mitsubishi plans to sell the additive to
companies looking to tap into increasingly health- and beauty-conscious
consumers across Southeast Asia.
Mitsubishi
spent over a billion yen, or roughly $10 million, to build a plant that
produces astaxanthin powder in Brunei. The powder is then shipped to Japan,
where one of the company's affiliate plants turns it into a liquid and supplies
the product to food and cosmetics companies.
The
company plans to expand its Brunei production facility within five years so
that the entire process can be completed within the country. It also plans to
increase the number of workers at the plant from 20 initially to 30-40.
Mitsubishi
also views the plant as a job creator in Brunei and a way to maintain a good
relationship with the local government.
Mitsubishi
has been producing liquefied natural gas in Brunei since the 1970s. In 2013,
the company cut a deal with Brunei's government to continue LNG production over
the next 10 years. As energy demand rises in emerging countries like China, it
is important to strengthen ties with the local government in order to continue
resource development, the company said. In the past, Mitsubishi has engaged in
running a ranch, farming and fish farming in the country.
Astaxanthin
is a pigment that makes crustaceans such as prawns and crabs red. It is used in
cosmetics and other products by Japan's Fujifilm.
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