Nikkei Industry Sector
Chemicals
Overview
Japan's chemicals sector within the Nikkei 225 encompasses specialty chemical producers, petrochemical companies, industrial gas suppliers, and advanced material manufacturers. Japanese chemical companies are globally recognized for expertise in high-purity and high-precision chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing, display panels, and advanced industrial processes.
Current Trend
Semiconductor-related specialty chemicals are experiencing exceptional demand growth as global chipmakers expand capacity for AI and advanced computing applications. Japanese suppliers in this niche enjoy strong pricing power and long qualification cycles that protect their positions even as new entrants attempt to compete.
Companies in This Sector
16
ASAHI KASEI CORPORATION
Denka Company Limited
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation
Kao Corporation
KURARAY CO.,LTD.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation
Mitsui Chemicals,Inc.
Nissan Chemical Corporation
NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
Resonac Holdings Corporation
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.,Ltd.
Shiseido Company,Limited
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED
Tokuyama Corporation
TOSOH CORPORATION
UBE Corporation
Today's Avg. Price Change
+0.49%
Simple average of constituent stock price changes vs. previous close. Not a sector index.
Updated: 2026-10-28 (JST)
Position in Japan
Japanese chemicals punches above its weight in specialty and functional chemicals, where precision and consistency command premium pricing. Semiconductor-related chemicals—photoresists, CMP slurries, ultra-high-purity process chemicals—represent a particularly strategic subsegment where Japanese suppliers hold dominant global positions.
Latest Press Releases
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “We have released a YouTube video titled "A Close Look at Our Employees' Challenges! ~[A Day in the Life] Taking on Diseases That Couldn't Be Cured with Conventional Medicines! The Challenges of Oligonucleotide Department Members Supporting Cutting-Edge Pharmaceutical Development~".”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Regarding the Japan Fair Trade Commission's review results on the integration of domestic polyolefin businesses: Sumitomo Chemical to integrate its PP and LLDPE businesses into Prime Polymer. .”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Announcement regarding the presentation of Biondo® at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Notice of revised sulfuric acid prices.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Announcement of our participation in the "Automotive Engineering Exposition 2026".”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “We will expand our product portfolio of high-purity alumina and accelerate our business expansion into the advanced semiconductor market.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Announcement of our participation in the 10th Bio-Pharmaceuticals EXPO at Interphex Week Tokyo.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Announcement regarding the Biondo® exhibit at "HFE JAPAN 2026," an exhibition on health and functional food ingredients [May 27th (Wed) – 29th (Fri) / Tokyo Big Sight].”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Notice of the conclusion of a stock exchange agreement (simplified stock exchange) for the complete acquisition of Koei Chemical Co., Ltd. by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Notice Regarding the Decrease in the Amount of "Capital Reserve" and its Transfer to "Other Capital Surplus" as a Result of the Stock Exchange.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Notice Regarding Differences Between the Individual Performance of Our Consolidated Subsidiary (Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.) and the Previous Fiscal Year.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “SMS message regarding the final accounts for March 2026.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Notice Regarding the Reversal of Impairment Losses on Shares of Affiliated Companies in Individual Financial Statements.”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Notice Regarding the Recognition of Financial Income (Foreign Exchange Gains).”
15
May
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED JP3401400001
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY,LIMITED “Regarding changes in executive personnel.”
13
May
NITTO DENKO CORPORATION JP3684000007
2026-05-12 NITTO DENKO CORPORATION “Notice regarding the status of share buybacks (195KB).”
13
May
Shiseido Company,Limited JP3351600006
2026-05-12 Shiseido Company,Limited “May 12, 2026: Optimization of Global Production Systems – Management, Performance Research, and Supply Network.”
13
May
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation JP3814000000
2026-05-12 FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation “Announcement Regarding the Selection of Candidates for the Board of Directors of Fujifilm Holdings.”
13
May
Kao Corporation JP3205800000
2026-05-12 Kao Corporation “Financial Results for the First Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending December 2026, News Release, May 12, 2026, Management & Finance.”
13
May
Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation JP3897700005
2026-05-12 Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation “2026/05/12 Business-related NEW: Regarding withdrawal from the polybutylene succinate (PBS) business.”