Corbion will invest approximately US$190 million in a new 125,000 metric ton lactic acid plant at its existing Rayong Province site in Thailand, using its gypsum-free technology.
Corbion and Total announced a 50/50 joint venture to produce and market PLA polymers, based in the Netherlands. Operations are expected to start in Q1 2017, subject to regulatory approvals.
Corbion will expand its existing lactide plant in Rayong, Thailand by 25,000 tons per annum, with start-up targeted for the second half of 2018 alongside the new PLA plant.
Corbion broke ground on 9 November 2016 for a 75,000 tons per annum PLA polymerization plant at its Rayong site in Thailand, with a reported capex of 140 million USD. Sulzer Chemtech supplies key equipment and start-up is targeted for 2018.