Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has announced the construction of a soybean processing plant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio with integrated crushing, vegetable oil refining and lecithin production and packaging capabilities.
The new plant, which will be about 72 miles north of Columbus, Ohio, will also provide an option to participate in renewable energy feedstock markets and help meet growing demand for biofuels.
The company says construction is expected to begin in early 2024 and will employ over 100 people. The facility will also have an annual soy crushing capacity of 1,500,000 MT, annual edible (RBD) soybean oil production capacity of 320,000 MT and annual lecithin production capacity of 7,500 MT.
LDC already owns and operates a recently expanded crushing, biodiesel refining, and glycerin and lecithin production complex in Claypool, Indiana in Kosciusko County.
“This strategic development will further strengthen LDC’s core merchandizing capabilities with additional capacity to originate and process US soy into value-added products – in this case edible oils and lecithin, reinforcing our position as a partner to our customers as we grow our Food & Feed Solutions business established in January,” said Michael Gelchie, LDC’s Chief Executive Officer.”
“Reflecting our long-term commitment to North America as a key market for LDC, both in terms of origination and distribution, this new facility will leverage LDC’s existing regional logistics network and synergies with our other integrated oilseed processing facilities in the region:, and our canola processing plant in Yorkton (SK), Canada, which we are also expanding,” said Gordon Russell, LDC’s US Head of Grains & Oilseeds.
