Dutch company Corbion (Amsterdam; www.corbion.com) has acquired the lactic acid business of US agricultural giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM, Decatur, Illinois; www.adm.com). The transaction includes the sales and delivery of lactic acid, sodium lactate and potassium lactate products. No production facilities or personnel will be acquired, and production will be absorbed into Corbion’s existing production facilities. Financial details were not disclosed.

Corbion said ADM has attractive positions in the North American lactic acid market, and the acquisition, which was completed on 31 March, will strengthen its position in this market. Last year the Dutch group announced plans for a 75,000 t/y PLA plant in Thailand. Although the facility would consume a lot of lactic acid, the company said it can still sell lactides on the open market – see Plasteurope.com of 04.11.2014.

ADM had sold its Telles bioplastics joint venture in 2012 already – see Plasteurope.com of 09.03.2012.