Yumi Biotechnology (Shandong) Co., Ltd. is making steady progress on the second phase of its large-scale functional sugar manufacturing complex, a project valued at RMB1.15 billion (approximately $168.8 million) that is expected to strengthen China's corn deep-processing industry and expand the production of value-added bio-based ingredients.
Construction activities are advancing according to schedule, with key infrastructure nearing completion. The glucose storage tank farm has entered the equipment installation stage following successful structural lifting operations, while the steel framework for both the finished goods warehouse and raw material warehouse has largely been completed. Exterior wall installation is expected to begin shortly, and foundation backfilling work at the liquid glucose production facility has already been finished.
The Phase II expansion spans approximately 9.47 hectares and is designed to significantly enhance Yumi Bio's downstream processing capabilities. The facility will include production plants for liquid glucose, crystalline fructose, maltodextrin and resistant dextrin, alongside dedicated storage infrastructure, a pilot-scale research and development centre, chemical storage facilities and supporting utilities.
Commercial operations will begin in stages. The liquid sugar production unit is scheduled to enter service in July 2026 with an annual production capacity of 700,000 tonnes of liquid glucose, 200,000 tonnes of premium glucose syrup and 100,000 tonnes of maltose syrup. Additional specialty ingredient lines are expected to become operational by February 2027, including facilities capable of producing 50,000 tonnes of crystalline fructose, 100,000 tonnes of maltodextrin and 50,000 tonnes of resistant dextrin annually.
The expansion builds upon Yumi Bio's existing manufacturing platform established through the successful commissioning of its Phase I corn deep-processing project in May 2025. The first phase houses what the company describes as China's largest single-line corn processing facility, providing the production capacity, logistics network and industrial infrastructure required to support future downstream expansion.
Beyond the current investment, Yumi Bio has outlined plans to immediately initiate Phase III following the completion of the functional sugar project. The next stage aims to establish a leading bio-chemical technology centre focused on innovation and advanced processing.
The company ultimately intends to maximise value extraction from corn by developing an integrated industrial chain capable of converting a single corn kernel into more than 50 products across four major product categories. The strategy reflects the broader transformation of China's agricultural processing sector from bulk commodity production toward higher-value bio-based ingredients and specialty food components.
