By investing in its Olesa plant, Kao aims to boost its market share in the European market for methyl dihydrojasmonate.

Kao Corporation is aiming to grow its market share in Europe for methyl dihydrojasmonate (MDJ) by expanding the production facilities at Kao Chemicals Europe’s Olesa Plant in Spain.

MDJ is a synthetic fragrance material that provides a refined, fresh, floral, jasmine-like fragrance.

It is utilised across a wide variety of different products, because of its good compatibility with other materials.

Kao has been producing MDJ in Spain since 2001 and, responding to further growth in demand (particularly in the European market), Kao is investing in an additional production facility.

The new facility, which is expected to more than double Kao’s MDJ production capacity in Spain, will be completed by December 2022, and is scheduled to begin production in early 2023.

According to Kao, enhanced productivity will cut CO2 emissions by 2,000 tons per year, while also reducing the amount of energy needed for waste water treatment by eliminating all saline waste water (which currently amounts to around 850 tons per year.

Feature image courtesy of John Morgan via Flickr