Founded in 1960, Clarimex began producing powdered activated carbon for Mexico’s sugar industry. Over decades it expanded its product range, including granular and powdered activated carbons, ion-exchange resins, filter media (such as zeolites and sand), and other purification materials, and grew to lead Latin America in activated-carbon manufacturing. Yuanli, which has partnered with Clarimex since 2008, will replace the outgoing US-based shareholder, Norit Americas. The remaining 51% of Clarimex will continue under Mexican ownership, held by Adminvest.

Clarimex serves a wide variety of industries including food and beverage (sugar, soft drinks, juices, wine), water treatment, chemicals, mining, and petrochemicals. Its activated carbon products are used for decolorization, purification, odor control, solvent recovery, water purification, and among other uses, gas purification and industrial waste treatment. The company operates processing facilities near Tula, in Atitalaquia, Hidalgo, and maintains a broad distribution network across Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Europe. It also operates a state-of-the-art R&D laboratory at its Atitalaquia site, reportedly the most advanced of its kind in Latin America for adsorbent-technology development, allowing it to design custom purification solutions for diverse industrial clients.

The acquisition is part of Yuanli’s broader strategy to expand in the Americas. By partnering with Clarimex, it gains access to Mexican production capacity, local wood-derived raw materials, and supply chains in Latin America, strengthening its global footprint in activated-carbon production and distribution.

For Clarimex, the investment may bring capital infusion, technical exchange, and expanded access to global markets under Yuanli’s network. It signals confidence in Mexico’s role as a regional hub for purification and filtration materials, particularly as demand grows for water treatment, industrial emissions control and environmental compliance.

Activated carbon plays a key role in environmental management: it is used to purify water, treat wastewater, filter gases and solvents, and remove impurities in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical processes. Given growing regulatory pressure and environmental standards globally, and increasingly in Mexico, demand for such purification technologies is rising. Clarimex’s broad product range and certifications (including ISO 9001) position it to serve sectors that prioritize quality, safety, and environmental compliance.

Clarimex has faced environmental scrutiny in the past: in 2018, local environmental authorities suspended operations at one plant after identifying excessive particulate emissions. The company reportedly committed to invest in upgraded processes and treatment systems to meet environmental standards.

The new investment under Yuanli may provide the resources needed to strengthen environmental controls, modernize equipment, and ensure compliance, which could reinforce the company’s ability to supply environmentally conscious clients in Mexico and abroad.

The deal arrives as Mexico continues to navigate an energy and industrial policy environment that emphasizes sovereignty, cleaner energy, and environmental responsibility. As industries adapt to stricter environmental norms and seek more sustainable practices, companies like Clarimex play a central role in enabling compliance and supporting industrial processes across sectors ranging from petrochemicals to water treatment.