Evonik to shut smallest of its methionine plants as it concentrates production
Evonik has been producing its DL-methionine product, branded as MetAMINO, in Wesseling since 1967. However, that facility, which has production capacity of 65,000 tons, is now set to close at the end of the first quarter of 2021.
But the company is to strengthen its intermediates production facility, which is also located at the Wesseling site. It announced that it is investing €25m in that plant to safeguard the long-term supply of intermediates to its Antwerp, Belgium DL-methionine production site.
In 2014, Evonik opened its methionine production facility in Singapore. In 2019, the company doubled the nameplate capacity at the site, and today, it noted that Asian site is now the largest DL-methionine production complex in the world with a nameplate capacity of 300,000 tons per year of MetAMINO.
Alongside Singapore and Belgian sites, Evonik manufacturers the essential amino acid at a facility in Mobile, Alabama, US. All three plants are equipped with ‘best in class’ technology lines, and are also ready for cost efficient modular debottlenecking in the future, said the producer.
“All three methionine hubs can be more or less easily expanded if market demands more volumes,” a spokesperson for Evonik told us.
With such a consolidation strategy underway, the company said it is now well placed for future growth at an improved competitive cost position.
“We will adapt to market challenges and prepare our asset set-up for highest efficiency and further optimized cost structures. We have engaged in continuous efficiency measures and programs over the past few years. As part of structural asset optimization, the time felt right to close the smallest methionine asset,” said Dr Emmanuel Auer, head of the animal nutrition business at Evonik.
