Major seasoning maker Ajinomoto Co. said it will begin producing amino acids for use in food and drugs in the second half of this year in Brazil.

Ajinomoto said its Brazilian subsidiary, Ajinomoto Interamericana Industria e Comercio Ltda., is building the plant in Sao Paulo to start full-scale production and sales of glutamine.

The company also plans to make three kinds of branched-chain amino acids -- valine, leucine and isoleucine -- one year after the launch of glutamine production. Total annual production capacity is expected to be 4,000 tons.

The company plans to sell the amino acids in Brazil as well as in North America, Europe and Asia, including Japan.

According to Ajinomoto, world demand for the products totals about 17,000 tons a year. The Ajinomoto group holds an estimated market share of about 60%.