agricultural · input

DHA/ARA Algal Oil (Infant Formula)

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) derived from microalgae; required by FDA in all US infant formula since 2023; DSM-Firmenich (via Martek acquisition) holds near-monopoly on algal DHA/ARA supply

3

Source countries

3

Companies

1

Goods affected

0

Claims on record

What depends on it

Goods that need this input

1 essential American goods rely on dha/ara algal oil (infant formula) somewhere upstream in their supply chain.

Where it comes from

Source countries

Share of global supply, by country.

CountryShare of supply
USUnited States55%
NLNetherlands20%
CNChina15%

Who makes it

Supplier companies

3 companies produce dha/ara algal oil (infant formula).

dsm-firmenich AG(DSFIR.AS)

HQ CH65% share

dsm-firmenich AG (Kaiseraugst, Basel-Land, Switzerland; formed by merger of DSM NV Netherlands and Firmenich SA Geneva, completed May 2023; combined revenue ~€12B of which fragrance ~€3-4B) is the world's third-largest fragrance company. Firmenich (private, Geneva; founded 1895 by Philippe Chuit and Martin Naef) was the world's largest private fragrance house and the only major fragrance company to remain independent until the DSM merger. Firmenich's fragrance heritage includes Chanel No. 5 (Firmenich supplies the fragrance compound to Chanel — one of the most carefully guarded commercial relationships in the fragrance industry; the Chanel No. 5 formula is a Firmenich-originated formula from 1921). DSM contributed nutrition, health, and biosciences (vitamins, carotenoids, animal feed enzymes) to the merger. The combined dsm-firmenich operates manufacturing at Geneva (Switzerland), Haverhill (UK), Neuvy-sur-Barangeon (France), and Florham Park (USA). The Firmenich name is retained in the merged entity's fragrance operations branding.

Evonik Industries AG(EVK)

HQ DE15% share

Evonik Industries AG (XETRA: EVK; Essen Germany; MDAX listed); world's largest DL-methionine producer under the MetAMINO brand. Total DL-methionine capacity exceeds 700,000 MT/year across three continental hubs: Jurong Island Singapore (~340,000 MT/year — world's largest single methionine complex, expanded +40k MT August 2024), Theodore Mobile County Alabama USA (~245,000 MT/year), and Antwerp Belgium (~120,000 MT/year). The Wesseling Germany DL-Met line closed Q1 2021 as Evonik consolidated production to the three-hub network. Evonik first commercialized DL-methionine synthesis in the 1950s under predecessor Degussa. MetAMINO is Evonik's largest single product. ~30-32% global market share. In February 2022 Evonik announced a $176.5M investment in a new methyl mercaptan (MMP intermediate feedstock) plant at the Alabama site.

Corbion N.V.

HQ NL10% share

Dutch biobased ingredient company (Euronext Amsterdam: CRBN, HQ Amsterdam; formerly CSM N.V. sugar/food division); world's largest producer of lactic acid and pharmaceutical-grade lactates via bacterial fermentation of corn starch and sugar. Corbion's Purac® pharmaceutical sodium lactate (formerly Purac Biochem, now Corbion Pharmaceutical Ingredients) meets USP/EP requirements for injectable sodium lactate used in Lactated Ringer's solution. Corbion is simultaneously the leading pharma sodium lactate supplier, the leading polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic monomer supplier (LUMINY® PLA for packaging, 3D printing, medical devices), and a major food ingredient company (lactic acid as preservative E270, emulsifiers for baked goods). One Dutch company is the foundational supplier for: hospital Ringer's IV bags, compostable coffee cups, biodegradable 3D printing filament, and artisan bread shelf life extension — all from the same bacterial fermentation process using corn starch as feedstock. Corbion operates fermentation plants in the Netherlands (Gorinchem), Thailand (lactic acid capacity), and USA (Blair NE).