NatureWorks Secures $600M Investment to Build Thailand’s First Fully Integrated Ingeo PLA Plant

NatureWorks, a leader in renewable polymers, has secured a commitment of more than $600 million from its parent companies—GC International Corp., a subsidiary of Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical Public Company, and Cargill Inc.—to build the world’s first fully integrated Ingeo PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand.

The new plant, slated to break ground in the second quarter of 2022, will host contiguous production lines for lactic acid, lactide, and polymer. Located within the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC) in Nakhon Sawan Province, the facility is scheduled to reach commercial operation in 2024 and will generate an annual capacity of 165 million pounds of Ingeo biopolymer across the complete portfolio of grades.

By expanding global Ingeo supply, NatureWorks will empower a wide array of low‑carbon applications—including 3D printing, hygiene products, compostable coffee capsules, tea bags, flexible packaging, and food‑serviceware—that demand high‑performance biopolymers.

“The approval of this investment marks a pivotal milestone for NatureWorks,” said President & CEO Rich Altice. “With our parent companies’ unwavering support, we are set to begin construction in 2022 and deliver an integrated manufacturing hub that will meet the growing global demand for sustainable materials.”