Evonik opens alkoxides plant in Singapore

German chemical firm Evonik has inaugurated its new world-scale alkoxides production facility on Jurong Island, Singapore—marking a major milestone in its global catalyst strategy. First announced in May 2023, the mid double-digit million euro investment strengthens Evonik’s ability to meet rising demand for alkoxides across Asia.

The plant, which has a capacity of 100,000 tonnes/year, will support industries such as biodiesel, pharmaceuticals, and chemical recycling.

The new plant also plays a strategic role within Evonik’s transformation journey. As part of the company’s broader shift toward innovation-driven growth, the facility is embedded in Evonik’s Custom Solutions segment, one of two newly defined pillars of its portfolio.

Custom Solutions focuses on, science-based solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of customer in fast-growing markets. This investment supports Evonik’s ambition to lead in areas such as bio-based solutions, the energy transition, and the circular economy, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and high-performance chemistry, it adds.

The Singapore plant completes Evonik’s global alkoxides production network, which includes sites in Germany, the US, and Argentina. With this addition, Evonik now offers a global supply chain for alkoxides, designed to meet local market needs with speed and precision.

The main application of alkoxides is the production of sustainable biodiesel fuel from vegetable oils, used cooking oils and other fat-based waste. The use of alkoxides optimizes the process to achieve the highest possible yield of feedstock. In the synthesis of active ingredients and fine chemicals, alkoxides also find numerous applications in the life science industry.