Overview
Mitr Phol is Thailand’s largest sugar producer and the world’s third-largest, headquartered in Bangkok. Founded in 1946, the company operates across multiple continents with 10,000+ employees. Beyond sugar production, Mitr Phol is strategically expanding into bioplastics manufacturing, leveraging its extensive agricultural biomass feedstocks and sugar production expertise to develop sustainable biodegradable plastic alternatives.
The company is positioning bioplastics as a pillar of structural reform, recognizing the growing market demand for sustainable packaging solutions to replace petroleum-based plastics.
Core Business: Sugar & Bioplastics
Traditional Sugar Production:
- Thailand’s largest sugar producer
- World’s third-largest sugar producer
- Extensive sugar cane production and processing capabilities
- Established supply chain and agricultural expertise
Bioplastics Development:
- Biodegradable plastic production from sugar and starch
- Sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics
- Food packaging applications
- Industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities
Bioplastics Products & Applications
Product Range:
- Biodegradable food containers
- Compostable cutlery and utensils
- Sustainable bags and flexible packaging
- Food service packaging
- Starch-based bioplastics
Market Applications:
- Single-use food packaging replacement
- Food service industry
- Retail packaging
- Biodegradable consumer goods
- Compostable food-contact applications
Strategic Partnerships
Marubeni Collaboration (Japan):
- Joint venture for bioplastics production and sales
- Focus on bags from sugar cane and starch feedstocks
- Initial sales target: >10 billion yen ($9 million) annually
- Distribution across Japanese and Asian markets
Braskem Siam Partnership:
- Ethanol supply agreement with Braskem Siam (joint venture of Braskem & SCG Chemicals)
- Bio-ethylene plant development in Thailand
- Planned capacity: 200,000 tons/year of bio-ethylene
- First bio-ethylene plant in Asia
- Expected completion: 2027
- Feedstock: Agricultural ethanol from Mitr Phol Bio Fuel subsidiary
Production & Scale
Agricultural Feedstock Advantages:
- Abundant sugar cane supply from company operations
- Integrated agricultural and processing infrastructure
- Cost-efficient biomass sourcing
- Established supply chain networks
Bioplastics Manufacturing:
- Proprietary technology for sugar and starch conversion
- Biodegradable polymer formulations
- Food-contact grade materials
- Industrial-scale production capacity
Sustainability Commitments
Mitr Phol’s bioplastics initiative supports:
- Plastic Replacement: Transitioning from fossil fuel plastics to bio-based alternatives
- Agricultural Valorization: Leveraging biomass byproducts
- Biodegradability: Complete degradation in compostable environments
- Carbon Reduction: Bio-based alternatives with lower carbon footprint
- Circular Economy: Food waste integration in production
Company Scale & Operations
Global Presence:
- Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
- Operations across 4 continents
- 10,000+ employees
- Public company (Thailand Stock Exchange: MITR)
Diversified Portfolio:
- Sugar production (primary business)
- Power generation
- Ethanol production
- Particle board manufacturing
- Bio-based products
- Consumer products
- Fertilizer production
- Logistics services
Market Position
Mitr Phol’s entry into bioplastics:
- Leverages existing sugar production infrastructure
- Positions Thailand as a bioplastics hub in Asia
- Creates agricultural value chains for sustainable products
- Aligns with global plastic reduction regulations
- Supports food industry’s sustainability transition
Last updated: February 27, 2026