KUALA LUMPUR, Hexza Corporation Bhd’s subsidiary, Chemical Industries (Malaya) Sdn Bhd (CIM), has launched a corn-based ethanol production facility in Persiaran Tasek, Ipoh—marking a significant transition from molasses to corn as its primary feedstock.
The facility uses natural fermentation and distillation to produce ethanol from high-quality corn, reflecting CIM’s shift toward more sustainable and efficient manufacturing methods.
Hexza Corporation Bhd’s subsidiary Chemical Industries (Malaya) Sdn Bhd (CIM) has launched a corn-based ethanol production facility in Persiaran Tasek, Ipoh.
A key output of this process is distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a high-value byproduct repurposed as livestock feed. With this innovation, CIM becomes the first company in Malaysia to manufacture and supply locally produced DDGS—contributing to food security and advancing circular economy practices.
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid praised the project as a clear example of circular economy principles creating tangible economic value by maximising agricultural inputs and fostering high-impact downstream sectors such as animal feed production.
“This initiative strengthens Malaysia’s bio-based value chain, reduces reliance on imports, and opens up new avenues for sustainable industrial development,” he said.
InvestPerak CEO Mohamad Hashim Abdul Ghani highlighted CIM’s long-standing presence in Perak and said the company’s continued expansion underscores its confidence in the state’s industrial ecosystem.
“The new plant not only showcases CIM’s focus on innovation and sustainability but also enhances Perak’s standing as a hub for high-value, future-ready investments,” he added.
Hexza executive director Foong Leon Chiew described the launch as a strategic milestone, reinforcing CIM’s leadership in the domestic ethanol and DDGS market while underscoring its commitment to sustainable growth.
Founded in 1962, CIM was Malaysia’s first ethanol producer and has since built a wide-ranging product portfolio—including ethanol of up to absolute purity, natural vinegar via its wholly owned subsidiary Bio-Acetic Products Sdn Bhd, and now, DDGS.
CIM also holds MS:ISO9002 certification since 1994, with its products meeting British Pharmacopoeia standards.
