Evonik has announced plans for a new world-scale production facility for the amino acid DL-methionine at Singapore’s Jurong Island.

If approved by the relevant company committees, the new fully back-integrated production facility with capacity for 150,000 t of the amino acid would start up in 2019 adjacent to an existing plant that went on stream in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Essen-based German chemical producer Evonik would produce all precursors in-house.

With the decision to build a new plant for the feed additive, which it sells under the brand name MetAMINO, Evonik is following the global megatrends of health and nutrition, said CEO Klaus Engel. “We are convinced that the market for DL-methionine will continue to show dynamic growth,” he added.

Locating the facility in Singapore will simplify supply especially to Asian growth markets. Evonik also produces DL-methionine at Antwerp, Beligum, Wesseling, Germany, and Mobile, Alabama, USA in addition to Jurong Island.

Altogether, Evonik produces and markets four essential amino acids for animal feed; in addition to DL-methionine, these include L-lysine, L-threonine and L-tryptophan.