Menthol

On July 1, 2025, NHU (Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd.) released its 2025 interim earnings forecast, expecting net profit attributable to shareholders to hit 33 billion to 37.5 billion yuan, marking a 50%-70% year-on-year growth. For Q2 alone, NHU anticipates net profit of 14.2 billion to 18.7 billion yuan. This profit surge is largely driven by the nutrition products segment, where increased sales volumes and higher prices for key products boosted performance. NHU has maintained strong profit momentum from 2024, when its annual revenue reached 216.1 billion yuan, up 42.95%, and net profit grew 117.01% to 58.69 billion yuan. NHU operates across four core business areas: Nutrition Products: The company produces a wide range of vitamins (E, A, D3, B12, etc.), amino acids (methionine, serine, cystine), and coenzymes like Q10. These are used in feed additives, food supplements, and health products. Significant advancements include achieving 30 million tons/year capacity, nearing completion of a 180,000 tons/year methionine project, and stable operation of the cystine production line. Fragrances and Flavors: NHU specializes in producing ingredients such as citral, linalool, and menthol, widely used in personal care and food industries. Ongoing projects include the fragrance industrial park Phase I and the SA aldehyde series project. High-Performance Polymers: NHU focuses on PPS, PPA, HDI, and other materials for automotive, electronics, and environmental applications. Key achievements include the start of a nylon materials project in Tianjin and the first phase of the IPDI project reaching production. Pharmaceutical APIs: NHU produces vitamins, antibiotics, and intermediates for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including moxifloxacin HCl and vitamin A. NHU’s strategic investments in R&D and capacity expansion have positioned it for sustained growth across multiple industries, from nutrition and healthcare to new energy vehicles and industrial applications.

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2025 -- Menthol cigarettes are associated with increased mortality risk, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Tobacco Control . Priti Bandi, Ph.D., from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues examined all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk according to baseline smoking status and menthol flavor status of the cigarette brand smoked for the longest period in a population-based prospective cohort study involving 969,349 persons enrolled in 1982 to 1983 with six years of mortality follow-up. The researchers found 4,071 and 20,738 deaths among 73,486 and 281,680 persons who reported reporting menthol and nonmenthol brands, respectively. Mortality risks were highest for currently smoking cigarettes, whether menthol or nonmenthol brands (e.g., about a twofold higher risk for all-causes than never smoking), while risks were substantially reduced for both types with quitting. Among individuals who formerly smoked, menthol versus nonmenthol smoking was associated with increased mortality risks of 12, 16, 13, and 43 percent from all causes, all cardiovascular diseases, ischemic heart disease, and other heart diseases, respectively. Among current smokers, mortality risks did not differ for menthol versus nonmenthol cigarettes, apart from elevated risk among those smoking ≥40 cigarettes daily. For other heart diseases, Black persons currently smoking menthol versus nonmenthol brands had an 88 percent increased mortality risk. "Menthol cigarettes remain unregulated despite known harms from smoking uptake and reduced cessation," the authors write. "This study provides additional evidence in support of their regulation in the USA and globally."