Tate and Lyle starts sucralose production in Singapore

Tate and Lyle starts sucralose production in Singapore

Singapore is the site of Tate & Lyle’s first sucralose plant outside of the US. Located on Jurong Island, the 11-hectare plant is dedicated solely to the production of dry sucralose.

The additional capacity couldn’t come at a better time, with the company strained to meet global demand for the sweetener. “We went through most of last year without product,” admits Austin Macguire, president Sucralose, Tate & Lyle.

With that, the company can breathe a little easier; especially given its recent troubles in China. In April, the company filed charges against three Chinese manufacturers and 18 distributors for patent infringement on their technology. “Basically they’re stealing our technology,” asserts Maguire.

Aside from a sugar joint-venture in Vietnam, this is Tate & Lyle’s first foray into Asia. The company expects to produce product in Singapore and export it to the region, as well as to the US and Europe. “Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar,” says Tim Bauer, director of Operations, Singapore. “So it’s relatively inexpensive to ship.”

The company expects to produce a liquid form at the facility—one that is soluble and preferred by beverage manufacturers—at the Singapore plant in the near future. Currently sucralose represents 20 percent of Tate & Lyle’s profits.