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NatureWorks Thailand's 75,000-Ton PLA Plant Starts Production! Global Production Capacity Exceeds One Million Tons!

Bioplastics Research Institute 2026-05-07 09:19:58

By the end of April 2026, global PLA production capacity has already exceeded 1 million tons, and by the end of 2026, it will reach 1.23 million tons.

Bioplastics Research Institute ReportApril 29, 2026NatureWorks, a global leading biopolymer manufacturer, announced the grand opening of its new fully integrated Ingeo™ biopolymer production facility in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.

The PLA annual capacity of this facility is approximately 75,000 tons, enabling production of the full range of Ingeo™ grades. Combined with NatureWorks’ existing 150,000-ton PLA capacity in the United States, the company’s total PLA capacity reaches 225,000 tons.

This marks NatureWorks asThe world's first PLA producer to complete construction of a second production facility, its global supply capacity for sustainable materials has been strategically enhanced.

This new factory is not only a significant milestone in NatureWorks’ development history but also a landmark breakthrough for the biopolymer industry.

Production of lactic acid, lactide monomer, and polymer from locally sourced sugarcane raw materialintegrated into one, forming a complete all-in-one integrated industrial park. Its product carbon sources are all from annual renewable resources, and at the polymer level, based on life cycle assessment, it can achieveCarbon neutrality and even negative carbon emissions。

The new factory's operation aims to meet the growing global demand for low-carbon, sustainable materials in the packaging, fiber, and consumer goods sectors. It will strongly support high-growth applications such as flexible packaging, compostable food service products, nonwoven fibers, and 3D printing, and further solidify NatureWorks' position.Strategic Layout in the Asia-Pacific Region。

The global PLA production capacity will reach 1.23 million tons.

Currently, global PLA production capacity expansion is accelerating, and by the end of April 2026, total global PLA production capacity has exceeded 1 million tons.

In addition to the 80,000-ton PLA plant of NatureWorks in Thailand going into production, another 230,000 tons of capacity is expected to come online in 2026.

Haiseng BiomaterialsThe 150,000-ton-per-year PLA project (Phase I: 75,000 tons) is expected to be completed and put into trial production by December 2025.It will officially commence production in 2026.

Jindan TechnologyThe annual production capacity of the PLA project is 75,000 tons, and it is scheduled to be completed and put into operation in June 2026.

Indian sugar mill BCMLThe 80,000-ton-per-year PLA project is expected to start production in October 2026.

By the end of 2026, the global total capacity of PLA will reach 1.23 million tons.

The main global PLA growth is in the 3D printing sector.

Global polylactic acid (PLA) demand in 2025 is estimated to be around 300,000 metric tons.

By 2026, the primary global growth in polylactic acid (PLA) will come from the 3D printing sector, with an expected increase of around 50%, and global consumption is estimated to reach 120,000–140,000 metric tons.Growth is also expected in other sectors.

Haizheng Shengcai's net profit for the first quarter of 2026 was 1.0459 million yuan, an increase of 348.06% year-over-year, mainly due to 3D printing and biaxially oriented film.

Intensified competition prompts NatureWorks to petition for additional tariffs on PLA from China and Thailand.

In the Section 301 trade investigation petition filed with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on April 14, NatureWorks urged the U.S. government to impose additional tariffs on imported polylactic acid (PLA) resin and downstream products, citing unfair trade practices by China, India, and Thailand that harm U.S. domestic manufacturing and stifle industry investment.

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NatureWorks Thailand's 75,000-Ton PLA Plant Starts Production! Global Production Capacity Exceeds One Million Tons!

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