Evonik will cluster its MetAMINO® (DL-methionine) production at three international hubs, Americas, Europe and Asia, to maximize economies of scale and utilize robust processes.
All three of Evonik’s world-scale MetAMINO® plants operate along with cost leading, best-in-class technology lines and offer opportunities for further expansion. They are also ready for cost-efficient modular debottlenecking in the future. The company believes it is now perfectly positioned for future growth at an improved competitive cost position.
Following this strategy, Evonik will close the smallest of its MetAMINO® plants with a capacity of 65,000 tons per year, located in Wesseling, Germany, by the end of the first quarter, 2021. In addition, Evonik will invest about €25 million into upgrading its world-scale plant for methionine intermediates in Wesseling to safeguard long-term supply to the Antwerp site and strengthen its European MetAMINO®-Verbund. “This will lead to a better cost position – through improved utilization of capacity – with economies of scale and an enhanced ability to adapt to any market condition,” the company said.
“The methionine business is important for Evonik, now and in the future. We will adapt to market challenges and prepare our asset set-up for the 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 Emmanuel Auer, head of Animal Nutrition business line at Evonik.
In 2014, Evonik opened its methionine production facility in Singapore and in 2019, the company doubled the nameplate capacity at the site. Today, Singapore is the largest DL-methionine production complex in the world with a nameplate capacity of 300,000 tons per year of MetAMINO®.
Alongside Singapore, Evonik operates world-scale facilities in Mobile, Alabama, USA and Antwerp, Belgium. Evonik has been producing MetAMINO® in Wesseling since 1967.
