In autumn 2002 chemical giant BASF will suspend lysine production in Gunsan, Korea, as the company integrates new vitamin manufacturing features.
The lysine plant will be shut down at the beginning of October for about six weeks. During this period, a new plant to manufacture vitamin B2 will be integrated into the existing fermentation plant for lysine at the Gunsan site. Due to high demand for lysine this year,BASF reports, availability is likely to be limited until the end of December.
The company stressed that availability of vitamin B2 will not be affected, as this product is currently supplied from the Ludwigshafen site.
Lysine, an important amino acid in animal nutrition is added to concentrated feed as a source of protein and offers an alternative to soybeans. In 2001, BASF sold €800 million worth of lysine and is one of the three largest manufacturers of lysine worldwide.