Kemin Industries acquired CJ Youtell Biotech, the enzymes and fermentation subsidiary of CJ Bio. This strategic move strengthens Kemin’s position in markets such as animal feed, food, aquaculture, textiles, paper and pulp, and biofuel industries.
With this acquisition, Kemin has full ownership of CJ Youtell’s fermentation plants and its enzyme product portfolio. CJ Youtell brings to Kemin a fermentation platform, including strategically located plants in Shandong and Hunan, China. These newly integrated assets will expand Kemin’s enzymes business, enabling the delivery of high-performance, sustainable enzyme technologies directly to customers worldwide.
Chris Nelson, President and CEO of Kemin Industries, stated: “We are pleased to welcome CJ Youtell into the Kemin family. This acquisition is a bold step forward in our ongoing strategy to provide cutting-edge fermentation solutions directly to our customers. Adding CJ Youtell to our portfolio further enhances Kemin’s expertise and dedication to supply high-quality and innovative enzyme ingredients and solutions across industries and around the world.”
The addition of the new facilities in China supports Kemin’s growth in R&D with laboratories and technical teams specializing in bioengineering, biochemistry, and enzyme formulation. With product innovation, manufacturing efficiencies, and the delivery of high-quality finished products, Kemin will be able to optimize production costs, reduce supply chain risk, and offer competitively priced, high-quality enzyme solutions across multiple markets and industries.
Michelle Lim, President of Kemin Enzymes, added: “The acquisition of CJ Youtell marks a powerful expansion of Kemin’s enzyme capabilities. For over 40 years, Kemin has been formulating and delivering enzyme solutions across multiple markets and industries. With CJ Youtell’s fermentation expertise now part of our portfolio, we offer customers a fully integrated solution—from proprietary strain development and manufacturing to final formulation and application support.”
By combining in-house fermentation with advanced formulation, technical sales support, and Customer Laboratory Services, Kemin can deliver tailored enzyme technologies. These expanded capabilities enhance Kemin’s agility and accelerate innovation, empowering customers to stay ahead in competitive and evolving markets.
