Antwerp / Degussa brings world's largest DL-methionine facility on stream

Düsseldorf (ots) - Degussa AG, Dusseldorf, has officially brought
the world's largest DL- methionine facility on stream at its site in
Antwerp, Belgium. Management Board Chairman Dr. Klaus Engel notes:
"This investment strengthens our position as a leading producer of
DL-methionine for the long term." The new large-scale facility has a
capacity of 120,000 tonnes per year. With a production capacity
totaling around 350,000 tonnes per year, Degussa is the world's
number one in DL-methionine. Commissioning of the facility, which
began in fall 2003 and has now been completed on schedule, was
carried out yesterday in the presence of Kris Peeters, the Flemish
Minister for Public Works, Energy, Environment and Nature.

"The new facility underscores our excellent position in the market
while also ensuring maximum efficiency in production and security of
supply", comments Dr. Hubert Wennemer, Head of the Feed Additives
Business Unit. "It means we are ideally equipped for handling the
increasing world demand for DL-methionine. The high-growth developing
markets such as Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe will also
account for a large share of this."

The new facility is the fourth of its kind within the Degussa
Group, the others being the existing production facilities for
DL-methionine in Wesseling (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium) and Mobile
(USA). It represents the most significant single investment to date
by the world's largest specialty chemical company.

Rapid worldwide implementation of the vertical integration
concept

The DL-methionine facility that has now been brought on stream in
Antwerp sets new standards in terms of size and degree of vertical
integration in the production facilities at the site. It obtains all
the important intermediates from its own raw material production. The
facilities required for producing the raw materials acrolein and
methyl mercaptane, and for expanding the existing hydrocyanic acid
production, were all constructed at the same time. Degussa is also
rapidly implementing this concept of integrated raw materials
production at its other DL-methionine production sites such as
Mobile.

The new facility complex has been delivering high levels of
production since the last part was commissioned in April 2006. The
old DL-methionine facility at the Antwerp site, which has a
production capacity of 80,000 tonnes a year, will be modernized and
activated in stages as global demand grows.

Antwerp is one of Degussa's major sites, with fourteen production
facilities for seven Business Units. Degussa employs a staff of
around 1,000 at the site, while the Feed Additives Business Unit has
around 200 employees. The site boasts an excellent infrastructure:
apart from the logistical advantages of the seaport, it also enjoys
good road and rail transport links.

DL-methionine is an essential amino acid used to ensure healthy
and environmentally compatible nutrition for livestock, particularly
poultry and pigs.

Degussa is the only company in the world to provide all four
important amino acids for animal nutrition: DL-methionine, L-lysine
(Biolys(R)), L-threonine and L-tryptophan. In over 100 countries of
the world the Feed Additives Business Unit delivers innovative
services and products, and contributes to customers' profitability
while enabling healthy and environmentally friendly animal nutrition.

Editorial note:
Additional text material and images are available at:
http://www.degussa.com/degussa/en/press

Degussa is the global market leader in specialty chemicals. Our
business is creating essentials-innovative products and system
solutions that make indispensable contributions to our customers'
success. In fiscal 2005 around 44,000 employees worldwide generated
sales of 11.8 billion euros and operating profits (EBIT) of 940
million euros.

Originaltext: Degussa AG
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ISIN: DE0005421903

Contact:
Hannelore Gantzer
Spokeswoman
Corporate Communications
T +49-211-65041-368
F +49-211-65041-527
hannelore.gantzer@degussa.com