Speciality chemicals company Evonik has announced plans to increase sodium methylate capacity at their facility in Argentina to meet the rising demands for biofuels in South America. Sodium methylate is used as a catalyst in large-scale biofuel production, to meet the higher demands for the product in Brazil and Argentina.

The Rosario/Santa Fe facility plans to increase capacity from 60,000 metric tons to 90,000 metric tons until 2021. According to Biofuels International Magazine, Elias Lacerda, regional president for Central and South America stated, “We are following our customers’ investments with our own to ensure ample future supply for this important renewable fuel, which helps to reduce emissions.”

The importance of cleaner burning fuel in Central and South America has seen a number of recent biofuel production capacity additions, and combined with a confirmed mandate to increase the biodiesel blend from 11% to 15% by 2023, has seen a rise in the competition for biodiesel exports from Argentina.

“This is why we continue to invest in our efficient reliable plant, which is strategically located right in the centre of the Argentinean soybean and biodiesel production region.” Said Marcos Salgueiro, general manager at Evonik’s Functional Solutions business line in South America.

Andreas Kripzak, vice-president and general manager for the Americas added, “This investment, coupled with the ongoing expansion of our sodium methylate plant in Mobile, Alabama, demonstrates our commitment to our core market of the Americas.”

Evonik, headquartered in Essen, Germany, also produces high volumes of sodium methylate for the European and Asian markets.

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