March 25, 2004

BASF Announces Its South Korea's Lysine Plant Maintenance Shutdown in Late May

In late May, for up to three weeks, one of the world's largest lysine producers, Germany's BASF, will temporarily shut down its lysine production in Gunsan, South Korea, for essential maintenance. BASF said in its announcement that availability of lysine may be affected during and several weeks after the maintenance.

In 2003, worldwide demand for lysine was about 630,000 metric tons. Total consumption of lysine in China was at 138,000 in 2003.

BASF South Korea lysine production facility has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tons. BASF is the second largest lysine exporter to China in 2003. Its plant in South Korea exported a total of 17,149 tons of lysine to China in 2003, registering an increase of 2,595 tons over its exports to China in 2002.