May 4, 2022

Evonik strengthens support for US dairy industry by resuming Mepron^® production in Mobile, Alabama

Evonik has resumed operations at its Mepron^® plant in Mobile, Alabama, the United States, as it gets back to supplying the US milk and dairy markets from a local source.

Due to the pandemic and uncertainties in demand, Evonik previouslyadjusted its manufacturing capacities for Mepron^® globally.

"Wherever possible, we supply our markets from local production," said Dr. Emmanuel Auer, head of Evonik's Animal Nutrition business line. "This strengthens supply security for our regional customers, especially in challenging times like these."

With over nine million high-performance dairy cows, the US is the world's largest single market for Mepron^®- a special methionine formulation which prevents degradation in the rumen and fosters balanced nutrient supply of dairy cows.

Evonik started Mepron^® production in Mobile in 2015 at one of three world-scale DL-methionine production hubs of its animal nutrition business. The production of Mepron^® is based on the essential amino acid DL-methionine.

High-performance dairy cows have a particularly high requirement for methionine, according to Evonik.The use of Mepron^® enables amino acid balancing of dairy rations to realise substantial reductions on CO2 emissions and nitrogen excretion. Farmers benefit from increases of production economics and milk quality, proven by higher specific milk output and enhanced herd health, immunity and fertility, Evonik explained.

"We are convinced that, especially in times of global supply chain disruptions, our North American customers in the milk and dairy industry need the supply security of a strong, reliable and regional methionine producer. Now is the right time to ramp up the plant in the US again, showing our regional customers that they can rely on Evonik," said Bonnie Tully, Evonik's president of the North American region.

Evonik is also creating ten high-skilled jobs at the Mobile site by resuming Mepron^® production. Already in January 2022, Evonik committed to invest more than US$175 million into a full back-integration of the methionine production complex at the site by constructing a new methyl-mercaptan plant.

 
- Evonik