Amino acids (lysine, methionine)

Feed amino acids such as lysine and methionine balance animal diets and cut soymeal use; China makes about 70% of supply.

Bio-based chemicals · Fermentation products · No. 111

• Product family
• Feedstock: Crops and biomass
• about 7 Mt of feed amino acids (2024, indicative (unverified), derived from Faxian Gongchang: China 4.89 Mt at about 70% global share); methionine about 1.94 Mt (2025); lysine about 2.94 Mt produced in 2022
• HS 292241, 293040

A few kilograms of factory-made lysine per tonne of feed lets chickens and pigs grow on far less soymeal.

Chart: Illustration: Amino acids (lysine, methionine)

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Engineered bacteria ferment maize glucose into lysine and threonine, while methionine is built chemically from propylene, methanol, sulphur and gas; about 2 t of maize makes a tonne of lysine.

Three things to know

1. China held about 76% of world lysine capacity and 93% of threonine capacity in 2023.
2. Meihua's Jilin sites reached about 1.3 Mt a year of lysine capacity in early 2026, nearly 30% of the world.
3. Since 12 July 2025 the EU has charged anti-dumping duties of 47.7-58.2% on Chinese lysine.

The journey

1. 1 Maize or gasGlucose for lysine, petrochemicals for methionine
2. 2 Fermentation or synthesisBacteria make lysine; chemistry makes methionine
3. 3 Recovery98% lysine crystals or 99% methionine powder
4. 4 Feed millA few kilograms dosed per tonne of feed
5. 5 AnimalLess soymeal, less nitrogen in manure

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