USA – Bunge Global SA has officially broken ground on a major expansion of its tropical and specialty oils refinery in Avondale, Louisiana.
The expansion project, which was launched at a ceremony on August 29, includes the addition of a new vegetable oil processing line and other supporting structures to increase oil production capacity.
The event was attended by Bunge executives, local officials, community partners, and the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO).
According to Brian Hudson, general manager of Bunge’s tropical and specialty oils division, the US$225 million investment is expected to significantly boost the refinery’s output, tripling its processed oil volume to 6,000 standard rail cars annually and making it the largest palm and specialty oils processing plant in North America.
The expanded facility is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2025.
“We are excited about our future in Avondale, including the opportunity to expand our product offerings and meet the needs of our customers throughout North America,” Hudson said.
“We are thankful for the support from great local partners and look forward to commissioning the expanded facility.”
The expansion will not only increase production but also bolster the local economy by creating new jobs. Bunge currently employs 50 people at the 15-acre Avondale site, and JEDCO noted that the facility’s amplified output will require a workforce increase.
Jerry Bologna, President and CEO of JEDCO, highlighted the strategic significance of the expansion.
“This expansion aligns directly with JEDCO and Jefferson Parish’s vision for the West Bank and the Avondale area. The continued investment into the Bunge facility helps to position Jefferson Parish as a global destination for food product manufacturing.”
Bunge, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, acquired the Avondale refinery in April 2023 from Fuji Oil New Orleans LLC through a joint venture.
The acquisition provided Bunge with a scalable, port-based facility to better serve its North American food, feed, and fuel customers while enhancing connections to global markets.
The refinery, located within the International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) Avondale Terminal, began serving customers in the second quarter of 2023.
This expansion is part of a broader, nearly US$1 billion investment strategy by Bunge in the New Orleans area. Earlier this year, Bunge also broke ground on an US$800 million oilseed processing plant near its existing facility in Destrehan, Louisiana.
The new plant, part of a joint venture with Chevron USA Inc. under Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables LLC, aims to advance renewable fuels production and is set to become operational by 2026.
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