Roche Closing U.S. Vitamin E Plant Early

Roche Closing U.S. Vitamin E Plant Early

PARSIPPANY, N.J.Roche Vitamins Inc. plans to close its vitamin E production facility in Nutley, N.J., by November 2003 rather than mid- 2004 as was originally scheduled. According to the company, it had planned to phase out production in New Jersey as it brought its new vitamin E production facility in Switzerland online. However, it determined the New Jersey plant was too outdated and not sufficiently competitive, particularly with vitamin E prices already depressed.

We understand that the loss of this facilitys yearly production capacity of 7,000 metric tons could have a short-term negative impact on the supply of vitamin E, said Chris Goppelsroeder, president of Roche Vitamins. However, we are looking forward to the opening of our new plant, where construction is progressing well and which will become operational in the second half of 2004. The plant, based in Sisseln, Switzerland, will have the capacity to produce 25,000 metric tons of vitamin E annually.

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