Production resumes at Evonik methionine plants in Antwerp
The shutdown had occurred due to an outage in hydrocyanic acid (HCN) supply.
The supply failure impacted both of its methionine plants in Antwerp.
The issue is now resolved, and production is again underway of its MetAMINO product at those facilities, confirmed the German specialty chemicals producer today.
Evonik stressed earlier this month that it did not expect an impact on its earnings as a result of that development.
Evonik’s current annual global capacity in terms of DL-methionine, which it brands as MetAMINO, is around 730,000 metric tons. Along with the plants in Antwerp, the company produces DL-methionine in Alabama in the US, in Singapore and in Wesseling in Germany.
Relying on this production network, it supplies customers in more than 120 countries, which, it said previously, ensures a “structurally reliable supply of methionine on a global basis - regardless of geographic location.”
The largest plant is in Antwerp though.
Price increases
Evonik also recently announced a hike in the net price of MetAMINO by up to 9% globally with immediate effect, saying all existing contracts and supply agreements would be honored.
Commenting last month on that price increase, and an earlier one in April this year, a spokesperson for the company told us.
“Within the last years, Evonik has invested significantly in new production facilities to guarantee a stable methionine supply for the global industry.
"Price increases are a normal procedure to compensate for increasing costs and to allow a sustainable margin level.”
DL-methionine is an essential amino acid. When added to poultry and pig feed, the crude protein level in the feed can be reduced, thereby lowering the impact of farmed animal production on the environment, said the producer.
