Despite being barred from the European market, BNBC expands feed additive production

Only 12 companies in the world produce feed threonine and only 6 feed tryptophane, Uritsky said, praising the decision of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko to give a green light for the BNBC project several years ago.

He didn’t provide any concrete production figures. In 2019, BNBC officials said the company intended to manufacture 64,700 tonnes of lysine, 5,900 tonnes of L-threonine, and 1,300 tonnes of L-tryptophan per year.

We thought we would export 20% of our products to Europe and the Middle East. After the sanctions were imposed, logistics changed, and we increased exports to Russia

Outperformed operational plans

BNBC has outperformed its operational plans, Uritsky disclosed, estimating that the company exports 85% of production volume, though Western sanctions pushed the company to alter its export plans.

“We thought we would export 20% of our products to Europe and the Middle East. After the sanctions were imposed, logistics changed, and we increased exports to Russia,” Uritsky stated. He also estimated that BNBC managed to meet 100% of the demand in the Belarussian feed market.

Sanctions sinks preliminary EU deals

European market originally played an important role in the BNBC original export programme. In 2019, BNBC unveiled a target to meet 5% to 10% of the demand for amino acids in the European Union market in the foreseeable future. The company reported that it had already concluded preliminary agreements with big European customers before the production was launched.

However, Western sanctions imposed against the country in several rounds in 2020 and 2022 have barred the way for BNBC additives to Europe.

Tryptophane has higher added value

Feed additives production helps generate additional income for Belarussian agriculture.

“If we grow grain and sell it for $150 per ton, it seems to be a good business. But, if we make tryptophane from it, we can sell it for $10,000 [per ton],” Uritsky asserted.

Plans for feed vitamin production

At the second stage, the company planned to add capacities for feed vitamins production. Uritsky, however, said that the imminent plans are to begin production of some food additives and medical goods.

“These are new types of essential amino acids, new products from the category of vitamins, say, and components that can be used in medicine,” Uritsky said.

To fuel BNBC expansion plans, the Belarussian government expanded the company’s land bank. The authorities have recently transferred agricultural land of several districts of the Minsk region under BNBC management.