Corn Cob Sugar Standard Formulation Launched, Biofermentation Projects Intensively Landed

Summary:

The formulation of the industry standard Fibrous Sugar – Part 1: Corn Cob Sugar has been initiated, which will systematically drive the upgrading and green development of the corn cob sugar sector. Recently, enterprises in Shandong, Xinjiang, Zhejiang and other regions have advanced a slew of corn-related biofermentation projects (new construction, renovation and expansion). Leading players have stepped up layout in segmented tracks, while the global corn processing industry is witnessing resource integration, fueling the high-quality development of the sector.

I. Industry Standard in the Pipeline, Steering Standardized Growth of Corn Cob Sugar Industry

Pursuant to the Notice of the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Issuing the 5th Batch of Industry Standard Formulation, Revision and Foreign Language Version Project Plans in 2025 (Gongxin Ting Ke Han [2025] No. 528), Fibrous Sugar – Part 1: Corn Cob Sugar has been included in the formulation program. The project is led by the China National Light Industry Council, with the China Bi Fermentation Industry Association and other institutions as the main drafting units. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is soliciting support from the China Bi Fermentation Industry Association and relevant departments to jointly complete the standard development.

This new industry standard is expected to exert a systematic positive impact on the corn cob sugar industry:

1. Accelerated industrial upgrading: As a non-grain biomass, corn cobs are utilized to produce high value-added products such as xylose and xylooligosaccharides, forming a "waste-to-wealth" green industry.
2. Environmental and policy-driven development: The use of agricultural residues like corn cobs contributes to the "dual carbon" goals, and the sector is backed by policies including the national 15th Five-Year Plan.
3. Local and enterprise practices: Regions such as Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province have begun to build a full industrial chain standard system covering upstream raw materials.

II. Intensive Launch of Key Projects, Vitalizing the Corn-Related Biofermentation Sector

Recently, corn-related biofermentation projects have been rolled out intensively across Shandong, Xinjiang, Zhejiang and other regions, covering new construction, renovation and expansion, with continuous optimization of industrial layout and enrichment of capacity and product mix.

On December 2, the Weifang Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment accepted the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the high-end manufacturing project of bio-based succinic acid and its derivatives by Shandong Tianyi Hongda Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

A new project located in Xiaying Chemical Park, Changyi, Weifang, it involves a total investment of USD 71.34 million (approx. RMB 505 million), with a 35,000 t/a production line for bio-based succinic acid and derivatives to be built, producing 30,000 tonnes of succinic acid, 5,000 tonnes of sodium succinate and other products, using glucose as raw material, adding 120 employees and operating 333 working days per year.

On the same day, the EIA report for the company’s 10,000 t/a new bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO) project was also accepted. With a total investment of USD 27.85 million (approx. RMB 197 million), the project shares the same site and operating system as the above project, and will build a 10,000 t/a BDO production line, producing 10,080 tonnes of BDO and 392 tonnes of tetrahydrofuran, using succinic acid as raw material, adding 97 employees. Founded in March 2024, Tianyi Hongda has a registered capital of USD 14.13 million (approx. RMB 100 million).

On December 16, the EIA of the riboflavin production upgrading and renovation project by Xinjiang Yili Hong Biotechnology New Materials Co., Ltd. was publicized. Located in the Khorgos Economic Development Zone, Xinjiang, the renovation and expansion project involves a total investment of USD 3.22 million (approx. RMB 22.8 million). It mainly upgrades the riboflavin extraction workshop, adding acidification, crystallization and other equipment to improve product purity and reduce downstream costs, while supporting the construction of starch milk drying, corn drying and corn cob crushing facilities. After renovation, it will have an annual output of 3,000 tonnes of riboflavin, 46,600 tonnes of corn starch and 100,000 tonnes of dry corn, adding 48 employees, with production organized in different shifts across workshops.

The company has previously built 12 production lines with an annual corn processing capacity of 500,000 tonnes, with products covering erythritol, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and others, and by-products including glucose syrup, corn gluten meal and others. As of the end of 2024, the company had 1,181 employees, with a certain scale of fixed asset investment, total assets, annual output value and revenue.

On November 25, the Jiaxing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment approved the EIA report for the 5,000 t/a high-value compound biofermentation preparation equipment project by Zhejiang Qirun Biotechnology Co., Ltd. A new project located in Nanhu District, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, it covers an area of 6,736.6 square meters with a total investment of USD 11.36 million (approx. RMB 80.4 million). It will produce a series of animal feed additives such as mycotoxin-degrading enzymes, stress-resistant probiotics, bioactive peptides and coenzymes, adding 50 employees, with three consecutive shifts for fermentation and single shift for other processes, operating 300 working days per year and a construction period of 6 months. All project products are feed additives, not involving the biomedical field, with production processes including microbial fermentation, mixing, packaging and others.

Founded in 2018, Zhejiang Qirun focuses on the R&D of biofermentation preparations. In August 2025, it started the construction of intelligent flexible production workshops, warehouses, R&D laboratories and other facilities, and the factory is still under construction.

III. Enterprises Step Up Market Layout, Parallel Industrial Chain Optimization and Global Integration

At the end of 2025, leading corn industry enterprises have intensified their layout in segmented tracks to improve the industrial chain, while the global corn processing industry is witnessing a trend of resource integration.

In the domestic market, on December 19, 2025, Beijing Lianchuang Seed Industry Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Longping High-Tech (a leading corn seed enterprise in China), completed the strategic holding of Wuhan Chuanhe Agriculture, a specialized fresh sweet and waxy corn enterprise. This layout, while consolidating its advantages in field corn, focuses on the fresh corn track, relying on existing germplasm resources and channel networks to accelerate the launch of diversified high-quality fresh corn varieties, driving the industry toward quality and branding upgrading.

In the international market, Bunge, a global agricultural giant, announced on April 15, 2025, the sale of its North American corn milling business to focus on core global value chain businesses, reflecting the trend of resource integration in the global corn processing industry.

Sources: CCM, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China

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CCM is the leading market intelligence provider for China’s agriculture, chemicals, food & feed and life science industries. Founded in 2001, CCM provides price monitoring, trade analysis and customized market research.CCM also offers advertising and promotional services for food ingredient and sweetener suppliers, helping companies enhance visibility and connect with targeted global buyers.

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