Evonik increases methionine capacity
A significantly increased global demand for methionine has led Evonik Industries to substantially increase DL-methionine production at its Belgian plant in Antwerp.
Evonik has consistently strengthened its DL-methionine-business in recent
years. Methionine is an amino acid for protein supply in animal nutrition. The
last major step for growth was in 2006 with the commissioning of the world’s
largest DL-methionine plant in Antwerp. The plant has a capacity of 120,000 and
with about € 300 million the largest investment ever in the chemistry business
of the group.
At the same time, Evonik announced that the already
existing plant in Antwerp after an extensive modernization is back into
operation as well. Alfred Oberholz, a member of the Board of Evonik, said:
“Changing eating habits and high population growth in many countries around the
world have increased the demand for foods of animal origin. With the continuous
expansion of our production capacity for DL-methionine, we are capable to match
this growing demand for amino acids.”
Antwerp is one of the major sites
of Evonik and employs approximately 1,000 employees in the chemical business.
Except in Antwerp Evonik also produces DL-methionine at Wesseling in Germany and
Mobile in the US.
