TCL Nears Launch of West Virginia Specialty Chemicals and Food Ingredients Plant
TCL Specialities LLC is moving its new West Virginia facility towards pre-commissioning. The plant will produce over 40,000 tonnes of Maleic Anhydride and 30,000 tonnes of Malic/Fumaric Acids annually. The MAN unit partially launches by year-end, with full operation by H1 2026. Strategically located, it utilizes proprietary technology and n-Butane feedstock, aiming to serve underserved US markets, strengthen local supply chains, and expand TCL's global footprint in specialty chemicals and food ingredients.
Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd. (TCL), through its US subsidiary TCL Specialities LLC, is making significant progress towards commissioning its new specialty chemicals and food ingredients manufacturing facility in West Virginia. The state-of-the-art complex is designed to host two major production units. The Maleic Anhydride (MAN) plant is slated to achieve an annual capacity exceeding 40,000 tonnes, targeting applications in high-strength composites, water treatment, coatings, and biodegradable polymers. Concurrently, the food ingredients plant will produce over 30,000 tonnes per year of Malic Acid and Fumaric Acid, crucial for beverages, snack foods, and general food processing.The facility is strategically positioned in the Marcellus–Utica shale region, leveraging n-Butane as its sole feedstock for a strong cost and supply advantage. It also integrates TCL India’s patented technologies, promising lower capital investment, high energy efficiency, advanced automation, and enhanced safety standards. TCL Specialities LLC aims to address underserved MAN customer segments in the North-Eastern and Mid-Western US, while also supplying Malic and Fumaric Acids across North America, Latin America, and Europe. With approximately 75 percent of these food ingredients currently imported into the US, this domestic production initiative aligns with broader US manufacturing goals to strengthen local supply chains and reduce import dependence. This project underscores TCL's strategic expansion of its global footprint and product portfolio.
