CAGE Codes:
5T267 SBW90 SJ350 QA956
4DRR6
Operating Segments: General Trading
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Partners: Petronas, Bell, JAL, Unicharm, TruTag Technologies, ArcelorMittal, ITM Power, and others.
About Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation is a Japanese general trading company that operates across a diverse range of industries with their offered products. Listed on three Japanese stock exchanges and operating with a large international set of customers, Sumitomo Corporation acts as one of the top three sōgō shōsha companies worldwide.
Sumitomo Corporation belongs to the Sumitomo Group which traces its history back to a 17th century book and medicine shop established by Masatomo Sumitomo in Kyoto. When Sumitomo’s brother-in-law, Riemon Soga, developed a technology capable of extracting silver from copper, the business quickly diversified its operations to include copper mining. In the following years, the business would continue expansion and diversification as they introduced textiles, sugar, and medicine trading.
Leading into the 20th century, Sumitomo continued to diversify their operations as they adopted Western techniques and developed trading, manufacturing, and financing businesses. In 1919, Sumitomo Corporation incorporated as The Osaka North Harbour Co., Ltd. so that they could conduct business related to land reclamation, real estate management, land grading, harbour repair construction, and other related activities in the Osaka northern harbor region. In 1944, however, Osaka North Harbour Co. was merged together with Sumitomo Building Co., Ltd. to create Sumitomo Building and Real Estate Co., Ltd.
After the end of World War II, Allied occupation forced many major Japanese businesses to break up, and Sumitomo was one affected entity. At this time, Sumitomo Building entered the general trading market and renamed themselves to Nippon Engineering Co., Ltd. As regulations tapered down throughout the following decade, Nippon Engineering began to reconnect with other Sumitomo Group companies, and eventually merged with Sogo Boeki Co., Ltd. in 1978. Following their merger, the company reestablished themselves as Sumitomo Corporation to match their English name. Leading into the present, Sumitomo Corporation has quickly grown in size and success, and their current focuses lay in infrastructure industries and non-resource businesses.
Products, Services, and Platforms
- Metal Products: Sumitomo Corporation works with industries and communities centered around steel products, aluminum, titanium, and other resources. These metals are for use in markets and fields such as automobiles, aircraft, ships, trains, home appliances, office equipment, pipelines, and beyond.
- Transportation and Construction: Sumitomo Corporation provides products and services regarding aerospace, aircraft leasing, ship business, automotive, and tire industries. Within the area of construction, Sumitomo Corporation specializes in construction and mining equipment, rental businesses, agricultural innovation, etc.
- Media and Digital: The Sumitomo Corporation provides products and services for television networks, digital business, communications, telecommunications, and more to create smart societies.
- Real Estate and Lifestyle: The Sumitomo Corporation manages retail and textile businesses, healthcare, food industries, and materials and supplies. For real estate, they have services and products for office buildings, retail facilities, residences, logistics facilities, and real estate fund businesses for Asia and the United States.
Subsidiaries/Partners
During their operational history, Sumitomo Corporation has partnered with entities such as Petronas, Bell, JAL, Unicharm, TruTag Technologies, ArcelorMittal, and ITM Power. Sumitomo Corporation owns various subsidiary companies such as Aimo Park, Aimo Solution, Bluewell Insurance, Cantex, Clickstream Capital, Pacific Summit Energy, Petro Summit Pte Ltd, and Presidio Ventures.
Competitors
Sumitomo Corporation’s major competitors include Mitsui, ITOCHU , Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Samsung C&T, Sojitz, Toyota Tsusho, TAISEI, Bharat Forge, and Endurance Technologies.