(Yicai) Dec. 8 -- Yuanli Activated Carbon, a Chinese market leader in wood-based activated carbon, will invest USD25.6 million to acquire a 49 percent stake in Mexican activated carbon processor Clarimex S.A. de C.V. from Norit Americas to strengthen its coverage in the Americas.

The transaction will result in US chemicals and performance materials giant Norit Americas exiting Clarimex, while the Mexican firm’s controlling shareholder will remain Adminvest S.A.P.I. de C.V., which holds 51 percent and has expressed support for the deal, the Fujian province-based buyer announced yesterday.

Wood activated carbon, produced by carbonizing and activating wood, is another major type of activated carbon besides the more common coconut-shell–based variety. It is used in industries such as food and beverage processing, water treatment, and pharmaceuticals.

Clarimex operates activated carbon processing facilities in the Tula Industrial Park in Atlacomulco, Mexico. From January to August, Clarimex generated CNY288 million (USD40.7 million) in operating income and CNY21.3 million (USD3 million) in net profit.

The two companies have worked together since 2008, with Clarimex conducting customized processing of Yuanli’s activated carbon to meet end customers’ requirements. Sales from Yuanli to Clarimex reached CNY12.6 million in 2024, making up 0.7 percent of Yuanli’s total revenue, and rose to CNY14.3 million from January to October this year, accounting for 0.8 percent.

Yuanli noted that Clarimex has established an effective sales network across North America, Latin America, and South America. After the acquisition, Yuanli expects to achieve complementary advantages in technology, markets, and talent, improve its overseas business layout in the Americas, and leverage Mexico’s abundant wood chip resources to deepen its expansion in the region and reinforce its global leadership in wood-based activated carbon.

Norit Americas, the seller in the transaction, is the American subsidiary of global activated carbon supplier Norit Activated Carbon and operates additional plants in the United States and Canada.

By market close, Yuanli finished at CNY15.67 (USD2.20), up 1.3 percent, after gaining as much as 2.3 percent intraday.

Editor: Emmi Laine