French chemical producer Arkema has started up its new €200 million thiochemicals platform at Kerteh, Malaysia. The business produces methyl mercaptan for use as a synthesis intermediate in animal feed, along with dimethyl disulfide.

Arkema said the development of the Malaysian site strengthens its position as the world leader in the production of high added value sulfur derivatives.

The French chemical producer is a specialist in thiochemicals technologies, with emphasis on methyl mercaptan, a sulfur intermediate key to the manufacture of the bio-methionine, which is produced on the same site by Korea's CJ CheilJedang using a biosourced process.

The new facilities are aimed at supplying the fast-growing demand in the Asian animal feed market. 

By also doubling its global capacity for thiochemicals, Arkema said it is "supporting the steady growth of the petrochemicals and refining markets, with world-scale plants in Europe, the US and Asia."