 "Evonik officials at ground-breaking ceremony for methionine complex in Singapore")
German chemicals major Evonik Industries has begun construction work to build a second large-scale plant for the production of the amino acid DL-methionine at Jurong Island in Singapore. The complex, to be built with an investment of Euro 500 million (about $ 550 million), will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes and is expected to become operational in 2019. Evonik sells DL-methionine under the brand name MetAMINO.
“Our methionine complex, which came on-stream in late 2014 on Jurong Island, is a success story. This led to our decision to build a second plant next to it. The demand for MetAMINO for animal nutrition is continuing to grow at a very fast rate in Asia,” said Klaus Engel, the chairman of the executive board of Evonik Industries.
The new plant will not only produce methionine, but also all strategically important precursors to guarantee product quality and supply security. “Singapore has proven an ideal location for supplying our Asian customers,” said Reiner Beste, chairman of the board of management of Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH.
The new production complex will increase Evonik’s annual capacity of MetAMINO to a total of approximately 300,000 metric tonnes in Asia, and to approximately 730,000 metric tonnes worldwide. The specialty chemicals company produces the amino acid in its world-scale plants in Antwerp (Belgium), Wesseling/Cologne (Germany), Mobile (Alabama, USA), and Singapore.
DL-methionine is an essential amino acid, which must be absorbed through feed intake. As a feed additive, it contributes to the efficient, healthy and environment friendly nutrition of livestock, particularly poultry and swine. That makes it an important component of ensuring a sustainable animal protein supply for the world’s growing population.
