Corn Products International, Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1997 and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Corn Products International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells a number of ingredients to a wide variety of food and industrial customers.
We are one of the world’s largest corn refiners and a major supplier of high-quality food ingredients and industrial products derived from wet milling and processing of corn and other starch-based materials.
Our consolidated net sales were $3.67 billion in 2009. Approximately 62 percent of our 2009 net sales were provided from our North American operations, while our South American and Asia/African operations contributed approximately 27 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Our products are derived primarily from the processing of corn and other starch-based materials, such as tapioca. Corn refining is a capital-intensive, two-step process that involves the wet milling and processing of corn. During the front-end process, corn is steeped in a water-based solution and separated into starch and co-products such as animal feed and corn oil. The starch is then either dried for sale or further processed to make sweeteners and other ingredients that serve the particular needs of various industries.
Our sweetener products include high fructose corn syrup (“HFCS”), glucose corn syrups, high maltose corn syrups, caramel color, dextrose, polyols, maltodextrins and glucose and corn syrup solids. Our starch-based products include both industrial and food-grade starches.
Corn Products supplies a broad range of customers in many diverse industries around the world, including the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, paper products, corrugated, laminated paper, textile and brewing industries, as well as the global animal feed and corn oil markets.
We believe our approach to production and service, which focuses on local management and production improvements of our worldwide operations, provides us with a unique understanding of the cultures and product requirements in each of the geographic markets in which we operate, bringing added value to our customers.
Products
Sweetener Products. Our sweetener products represented approximately 56 percent, 53 percent and 57 percent of our net sales for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
High Fructose Corn Syrup: We primarily produce two types of high fructose corn syrup: (i) HFCS-55, which is mainly used as a sweetener in soft drinks; and (ii) HFCS-42, which is used as a sweetener in various consumer products such as fruit-flavored beverages, yeast-raised breads, rolls, dough, ready-to-eat cakes, yogurt and ice cream.
Glucose Corn Syrups: Corn syrups are fundamental ingredients widely used in food products such as baked goods, snack foods, beverages, canned fruits, condiments, candy and other sweets, dairy products, ice cream, jams and jellies, prepared mixes and table syrups. In many markets, we offer corn syrups that are manufactured through an ion exchange process, a method that creates the highest quality, purest corn syrups.
High Maltose Corn Syrup: This special type of glucose syrup has a unique carbohydrate profile, making it ideal for use as a source of fermentable sugars in brewing beers. High maltose corn syrups are also used in the production of confections, canning and some other food processing applications.
Dextrose: We were granted the first US patent for dextrose in 1923. We currently produce dextrose products that are grouped in three different categories - monohydrate, anhydrous and specialty. Monohydrate dextrose is used across the food industry in many of the same products as glucose corn syrups, especially in confectionery applications. Anhydrous dextrose is used to make solutions for intravenous injection and other pharmaceutical applications, as well as some specialty food applications. Specialty dextrose products are used in a wide range of applications, from confectionery tableting to dry mixes to carriers for high intensity sweeteners. Dextrose also has a wide range of industrial applications, including use in wall board and production of biodegradable surfactants (surface agents), humectants (moisture agents), and as the base for fermentation products including vitamins, organic acids, amino acids and alcohol.
Polyols: These products are sugar-free, reduced calorie sweeteners primarily derived from starch. They include crystalline sorbitol, crystalline maltitol, mannitol, specialty liquid polyols and liquid sorbitol for the food, beverage, confectionary, industrial, personal and oral care, and nutritional supplement markets.
Maltodextrins and Glucose and Corn Syrup Solids: These products have a multitude of food applications, including formulations where liquid corn syrups cannot be used. Maltodextrins are resistant to browning, provide excellent solubility, have a low hydroscopicity (do not retain moisture), and are ideal for their carrier/bulking properties. Corn syrup solids have a bland flavor, remain clear in solution, and are easy to handle and also provide bulking properties.
Starch Products. Our starch products represented approximately 23 percent, 22 percent and 22 percent of our net sales for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Starches are an important component in a wide range of processed foods, where they are used particularly as a thickener and binder. Cornstarch is also sold to cornstarch packers for sale to consumers. Starches are also used in paper production to produce a smooth surface for printed communications and to improve strength in recycled papers. In the corrugating industry, starches are used to produce high quality adhesives for the production of shipping containers, display board and other corrugated applications. The textile industry has successfully used starches for over a century to provide size and finishes for manufactured products. Industrial starches are used in the production of construction materials, textiles, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, as well as in mining, water filtration and oil and gas drilling.
Co-Products and others. Co-products and others accounted for 21 percent, 25 percent and 21 percent of our net sales for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Refined corn oil (from germ) is sold to packers of cooking oil and to producers of margarine, salad dressings, shortening, mayonnaise and other foods. Corn gluten feed is sold as animal feed. Corn gluten meal is sold as high protein feed for chickens, pet food and aquaculture primarily, and steepwater is sold as an additive for animal feed.