German company Evonik Industries on 19 Oct held a groundbreaking ceremony for its second methionine plant in Singapore. The company will invest more than €500m (S$761m) in the plant, which will have a production capacity of 150,000 metric tons a year. This brings the company’s annual production capacity in Singapore to 300,000 metric tons, and to around 730,000 metric tons globally.
The Me6 plant on Jurong Island is slated to be completed by 2019, and will be Evonik’s sixth global methionine facility. Methionine is an amino acid used in animal feed, such as for chickens and pigs.
Dr Reiner Beste, chairman of the board of management at Evonik Nutrition and Care, said Singapore was chosen for its logistics infrastructure, as well as support from the regulatory authorities and engineering partners. Evonik’s first plant was competed two years ago.