# 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.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/

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
 Bio-based chemicals · Fermentation products · Foundation · Matter

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 gas**Glucose for lysine, petrochemicals for methionine
2. 2 **Fermentation or synthesis**Bacteria make lysine; chemistry makes methionine
3. 3 **Recovery**98% lysine crystals or 99% methionine powder
4. 4 **Feed mill**A few kilograms dosed per tonne of feed
5. 5 **Animal**Less soymeal, less nitrogen in manure
 Covered in [The chemical industry: what it makes and how it is organisedChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/chem-industry-map/)[Pharmaceuticals and fermentation: from molecule to medicineChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/pharmaceuticals-and-fermentation/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/links/index.md)