# Lactic acid and PLA: Feedstocks

Why PLA plants sit beside cheap cane and maize

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lactic_acid_pla/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

PLA is sugar turned into plastic: about 1.5-1.7 t of sugar per t of PLA (Balrampur, 2026). Plants sit next to cheap sugar: Thai cane, US maize, Chinese maize and Indian cane. Sugar at $0.41/kg (Sep 2026, World Bank via sugar tile) puts feedstock at roughly $620-700/t of PLA, close to the full price of fossil PET.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Su Sugar](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sugar/) | 1.6 t per t PLA now, target 1.5 t (Balrampur) | carbon source | about $650/t of PLA at $0.41/kg sugar (derived; about a quarter to a third of price, indicative) | Swarajya 2026; S&P Global 2026; World Bank via sugar tile |
| [Mz Maize](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/maize/) | about 2.5 t maize per t PLA (indicative) | carbon source in the US and China | about 25-35% (indicative) | indicative |
| [Csv Cassava](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/) | about 1.7 t starch per t PLA (indicative) | alternative sugar source in Thailand | similar | indicative |
| [CaO Lime](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/lime/) | up to about 0.6 t per t lactic acid (indicative) | pH control in classical fermentation | small | indicative |
| **Energy (steam, power)** | not published | fermentation, purification, lactide distillation | significant (indicative) | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Integrated plants next to cane or maize with large lactide units (NatureWorks, TotalEnergies Corbion in Thailand, large Chinese groups) are lowest cost. Small or non-integrated plants that buy lactic acid struggle, which is why Grandpuits was dropped.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Mz Maize](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/maize/)[Su Sugar](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sugar/)[Csv Cassava](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [Fd Food and feed additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/food_additives/) | lactic acid and lactates are food acidulants and preservatives |

## Other sections

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