Officials from CJ Cheiljedang and CJ Bio Malaysia gesture during a ceremony to launch the production of L-Methionine, an animal feed addictive.

CJ Cheiljedang said on Feb. 29 that a livestock feed plant the company recently dedicated began to produce L-Methionine, an animal feed addictive. The $400 million plant has an annual capacity of 80,000 tons of L-Methionine.

Ten amino acids have so far been developed. Out of the total, five amino acids — lysine, theronine, trytphan, methionine and valine — have been commercialized. 

CJ Cheiljedang officials said L-Methionine, developed by CJ Cheiljedang, is a feed addictive produced by employing an environmentally-friendly bio fermentation method using raw sugar and glucose, the world’s first such one.

Research studies showed that CJ L L-Methionine is 40 percent more efficient than petroleum-based DL-Methionine.

Methionine is an essential amino acid for protein synthesis (e.g. muscle) and an important methyl-group donor. Methionine, as one of the two sulfur-containing amino acids, plays a key role in maintaining protein function and improving the overall redox status of tissues. In addition, methionine serves as the precursor of cysteine, glutathione and taurine, which are important cellular antioxidants (Brosnan and Brosnan, 2006).

CJ CheilJedang has more than six decades of experience in fermentation, and CJ L-Methionine is the result of its innovative technological excellence. CJ L-Methionine delivers the “methionine activity” more effectively than the traditional methionine sources. 

Methionine can exist in either the L- or D-isomeric forms called enantiomers, which are mirror images of each other. Chemically, there is no difference between the two forms but enzymes prefer the L-form. Only the L-isomers of amino acids are incorporated into bio-active proteins, and CJ L-Methionine delivers 100 percent the L-form of methionine. The D-isomer from DL-methionine, and both of the D- and L-isomers from MHA, must be converted into the L-form by a two-step enzymatic process that is never 100 percent efficient, resulting in metabolic losses.

The value of the global methionine market is estimated at $5 billion. Evonik of Germany, Adisseo of China, Novus of the United States and Sumitomo of Japan now control a 95 percent share of the market. 

CJ CheilJedang said selling 80,000 tons of L-Methionine produced at the Malaysian plant will reap some $350 million in revenue to take up an around 7 percent of the market. 

“CJ CheilJedang has already a track record of topping the global Lysine and Trytophan markets, and CJ CheilJedang will devote itself to rising to the global No. 1 company in all animal fee addictive markets by settling its entry into the global L-Methionine market,” said CJ CheilJedang CEO Kim Chul-ha. 

The $400 million plant has an annual capacity of 80,000 tons of L-Methionine.(Photos:CJ Cheiljedang)

About CJ CheilJedang

CJ CheilJedang started in 1953 as Korea's first manufacturer of sugar. For the last six decades, the company has taken initiatives in leading the Korean food industry and expanded its business into food Ingredients, food, feed & livestock, bio and pharmaceutical. 

The food Ingredient and food business units have introduced food products with great taste and differentiated quality such as “Beksul,” “Freshian,” “Haechandle,” “DASIDA,” “CJ Cooked Rice” and “Petitzel,” to cater to changing social trends and customer needs, with a focus on health and convenience. The premium brand power of our products continues to pave the way for the company’s growth. In addition, CJ CheilJedang will nurture 'bibigo' into a global brand to take the lead in introducing Korean cuisine, or “hansik,” in the global market.