How is China's L-methionine supply-demand balance evolving amid global capacity shifts?

How is China's L-methionine supply-demand balance evolving amid global capacity shifts?
China consumes about 20% of global methionine, with demand growing ~8% annually, yet domestic production historically lagged, forcing reliance on imports. The global market is dominated by Evonik, Adisseo, Novus, and Sumitomo, controlling ~80% of capacity. CJ's 80,000-tonne L-methionine plant in Malaysia, operational since 2015, marked the first bio-based commercial facility. Meanwhile, Chinese producers like Zhejiang New Century and Chongqing Ziguang have expanded, but most output is DL-methionine. Recent supply disruptions—Evonik's Singapore force majeure and planned maintenance across Singapore, Antwerp, and Chinese plants—have tightened spot availability. In October 2025, CJ quoted 22 yuan/kg, with solid methionine spot prices touching 35 yuan/kg amid supply concerns. Domestic prices remain historically low (16.5% percentile for solid), suggesting room for recovery. China's growing self-sufficiency in DL-methionine, combined with rising L-methionine imports, points to a bifurcated market where premium L-form serves specialty feed and pharmaceutical niches.