September 14, 2023

Explosion at ADM facility in Decatur, Illinois injures employees, disrupts corn, soy processing

An explosion and fire at the Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) facility in Decatur, Illinois, have left several employees injured and severely impacted crop processing operations, including corn and soybeans, Reuters reported.

The explosion occurred at the ADM East processing plant in Decatur, leading to a fire that resulted in significant damage to various structures. The Decatur Fire Department reported that eight workers were injured in the incident, with six of them transported to the hospital by ambulance. As of Monday morning, five employees remained hospitalised, according to ADM.

ADM is currently assessing the extent of the damage and conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion.

Among the structures severely affected by the blast were a 10-story building and adjacent facilities, as reported by the fire department.

The plant responsible for crushing soybeans to produce soybean oil and white flake for soy protein production was non-operational. Additionally, an adjacent corn processing plant temporarily ceased operations as ADM focuses on ensuring safety before resuming activities.

The extended downtime of this substantial processing facility, situated in the heart of the US Corn Belt, could exert downward pressure on crop prices. This disruption comes at a critical time when Midwest farmers are preparing to harvest their corn and soybeans. Declining export demand has already contributed to a reduction in US crop prices, especially for corn.

ADM's Decatur site serves as the company's North American headquarters and is its largest facility globally. It encompasses soybean crushing facilities and boasts one of the world's largest corn wet mills.

-      Reuters