Evonik Eyes Expansion of Methyl Mercaptan Production in US

Specialty chemicals maker Evonik is moving to bolster its position in the global methionine market with plans for a new methyl mercaptan plant at its location in Mobile, AL, a company release announced this week. About €150 million will be invested in the project over a three-year period.

The backward integration will reduce the company’s reliance on third party sources for methyl mercaptan, which is used as an intermediate in DL-methionine production and enable it to serve demand in North and South American markets. Methionine is added to livestock feed to offer health and efficiency benefits.

“The backward integration in Mobile eliminates transportation of hazardous chemicals and shows our continued commitment to responsible care and business sustainability,” said Dr. Emmanuel Auer, head of Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line, in a release. “This ultimately positions us even better as a reliable partner for our customers in the Americas.”

Evonik currently operates production hubs for methionine in Antwerp, Belgium and Singapore that also feature backward integration.

“The new methyl mercaptan plant in Mobile is another important step in the consistent implementation of our global methionine asset strategy,” Johaan-Caspar Gammelin, the leader of Evonik’s Nutrition & Care division, said in a statement. “We are securing our cash flow from the methionine business to finance our growth with system solutions in Nutrition & Care.”