Corbion
A Dutch ingredient and biochemicals company focused on lactic-acid solutions, sustainable food ingredients, and bio-based materials.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Corbion is a Dutch multinational business-to-business ingredient and biochemicals company headquartered in Amsterdam. Its current identity emerged from the transformation of Centrale Suiker Maatschappij, or CSM, a Dutch sugar producer founded in 1919. Over the course of the twentieth century, CSM expanded beyond sugar into branded foods, confectionery, bakery supplies, and food ingredients. It later became particularly important in the production of lactic acid and related compounds made through fermentation. The company changed direction decisively during the 2000s and early 2010s. CSM divested its traditional sugar operations and progressively reduced its exposure to consumer food brands and confectionery. In 2012 it announced a plan to sell its bakery activities and concentrate on bio-ingredients, especially the businesses associated with Purac and Caravan Ingredients. The bakery operations in Europe and North America were sold to Rhône Capital in 2013, and the CSM name was transferred with that business. The remaining company adopted the name Corbion in July 2013. Corbion's portfolio centers on ingredients and chemical intermediates derived from fermentation and other bio-based processes. Lactic acid and its derivatives are used in food preservation, shelf-life extension, acidity regulation, cosmetics, solvents, pharmaceuticals, medical applications, and the manufacture of biodegradable plastics. The company also supplies emulsifiers, functional systems, preservation solutions, and other ingredients for food manufacturers. Its customers are primarily industrial and institutional rather than household consumers, so Corbion is generally encountered through ingredients incorporated into finished foods, medicines, packaging, and industrial products. A major area of development has been polylactic acid, or PLA. Corbion expanded its lactide production in Thailand and subsequently formed a 50/50 joint venture with Total to produce and market PLA polymers. The resulting Total Corbion PLA facility in Rayong, Thailand, began operating in 2018 with stated annual capacity of 75,000 tonnes. The venture positioned Corbion as a significant supplier of bio-based and biodegradable polymer materials alongside NatureWorks. Corbion also broadened its biotechnology platform through the 2017 acquisition of TerraVia, formerly Solazyme. TerraVia brought capabilities in microalgae-derived oils, proteins, structured fats, and other specialty ingredients. These materials supported applications in food, animal nutrition, and biochemical products, including algae-derived omega-3 ingredients. In Latin America, Corbion expanded its food-ingredient presence through the 2019 acquisition of Granotec do Brazil. Today, Corbion presents itself as a supplier of sustainable ingredient solutions rather than as a conventional food manufacturer. Its business combines food preservation and functionality with biochemical and bio-based technologies. The company serves food, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, animal-nutrition, and materials markets, with sustainability, renewable feedstocks, fermentation expertise, and product-performance innovation forming the central elements of its positioning.
History
Corbion traces its corporate history to Centrale Suiker Maatschappij, commonly abbreviated CSM, which was established in the Netherlands in 1919 as a holding company for sugar production and trading activities. The founding combination brought together several existing sugar businesses and their assets. CSM was listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in 1920. Its early years were difficult because of overproduction and falling sugar prices, but the company survived and operated a network of Dutch sugar factories and a refinery. After the Second World War, CSM experienced a more prosperous period and accumulated substantial financial reserves. Sugar remained the foundation of the business, but its relative importance gradually declined as the company diversified. From the late 1970s onward, CSM expanded through acquisitions in food and confectionery. It bought the food division of Koninklijke Scholten-Honig in 1978, Verenigde Dropfabrieken in 1986, and Tonnema in 1990. In 2001, it sold its Foods Division, which included brands such as Hak, Honig, and De Ruijter. Its Sweets Division, containing brands including Venco, Red Band, and Sportlife, was subsequently placed on the market in 2005. CSM increasingly concentrated on supplying ingredients to food manufacturers. In 2000 it acquired Unilever's bakery-ingredient division for approximately €670 million, strengthening its position in bakery supplies in Europe and North America. In 2006, the company announced the sale of its sugar operations to Royal Cosun. That transaction marked a further step away from the company's original sugar-centered identity. Alongside food ingredients, CSM developed a major lactic-acid business. The company began producing lactic acid from fermented sugar in the late 1960s. Lactic acid and its derivatives became useful across a wide range of markets, including food preservation, cosmetics, solvents, pharmaceuticals, medical products, and biodegradable plastics. The business was associated with the Purac name and eventually became central to the company's long-term strategy. In 2010, CSM announced the acquisition of Best Brands, a large United States bakery-products producer. The transaction expanded its bakery footprint and made CSM a major supplier in that market. However, the company's strategic direction soon changed. In 2012 it announced that it would sell its bakery operations and focus on bio-ingredients. The European and North American bakery activities were sold to Rhône Capital in 2013 for more than €1 billion, and Rhône also acquired the CSM brand name. The transaction was completed on 3 July 2013, after which the remaining company adopted the name Corbion and focused on organic food ingredients and biochemicals. Corbion subsequently invested in lactic-acid derivatives and bio-based materials. A lactide plant in Thailand became operational in 2011, providing an intermediate for polylactic acid. In 2016, the company decided to build a PLA plant next to its existing Thai operations. Later that year, it formed a 50/50 joint venture with Total, known as Total Corbion PLA, to produce and market PLA polymers. The Rayong facility began operating in December 2018 and gave the venture a major commercial production base for bio-based polymer materials. In 2017, Corbion acquired TerraVia, formerly Solazyme, bringing a microalgae biotechnology platform into the company. TerraVia's technologies included algae-derived oils, proteins, structured fats, and specialty ingredients for food, animal nutrition, and biochemical applications. In 2019, Corbion acquired Granotec do Brazil, extending its food-ingredient capabilities and regional reach in Latin America. The resulting company is materially different from the sugar enterprise founded in 1919. Corbion now operates as a specialized global supplier whose principal capabilities are fermentation, lactic-acid chemistry, food functionality, preservation, algae biotechnology, and bio-based materials. Its products are generally sold to industrial customers and appear as components of foods, pharmaceuticals, medical products, animal-nutrition products, cosmetics, chemicals, and biodegradable polymers.
- 2019
Granotec do Brazil is acquired
[1]Corbion expands its food-ingredient activities in Latin America.
- 2018
Total Corbion PLA plant starts production
[1]The joint venture's 75,000-tonne-per-year PLA facility in Rayong, Thailand, starts up.
- 2017
TerraVia is acquired
[1]The acquisition adds microalgae-derived ingredients and biotechnology capabilities.
- 2013
CSM becomes Corbion
[1]After selling its bakery activities, the remaining company adopts the Corbion name and focuses on bio-ingredients and biochemicals.
- 2011
Lactide facility in Thailand becomes operational
[1]A Thai plant begins producing lactide, an intermediate used to make polylactic acid.
- 2006
Sugar operations are sold to Royal Cosun
[1]The sale reduces CSM's exposure to its original sugar business.
- 2000
Bakery-ingredient business acquired from Unilever
[1]CSM acquires Unilever's bakery-ingredient division and expands its position in Europe and North America.
- 1960
Lactic-acid development begins
[1]CSM begins producing lactic acid through fermentation of sugar, laying the foundation for its future biochemical business.
- 1920
CSM is listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange
[1]CSM becomes a publicly traded company in Amsterdam.
- 1919
Centrale Suiker Maatschappij is founded
[1]The Dutch sugar holding company that would later become Corbion is established.
Products and positioning
A sustainability-oriented B2B supplier of fermentation-derived ingredients, lactic-acid solutions, food functionality systems, and bio-based materials.
Biochemicals and food ingredients
Lactic acid and lactates
Corbion produces lactic acid and derivative compounds through fermentation-based processes. These materials are used as acidity regulators, preservatives, shelf-life extenders, solvents, and intermediates across food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, medical, and industrial applications. The portfolio is one of the main foundations of Corbion's identity as a bio-based ingredient and chemistry company.
Food preservation and functionality
PuraQ
PuraQ is a Corbion product and solution platform based on lactic-acid chemistry. It supports food manufacturers seeking preservation, freshness, safety, and shelf-life performance in products such as meat, bakery items, prepared foods, and other processed foods. Specific formulations vary by application and market.
Algae-derived nutrition ingredients
AlgaPrime DHA
AlgaPrime DHA is an algae-derived source of docosahexaenoic acid used principally in nutrition applications, including animal nutrition. It reflects Corbion's expansion into microalgae-based oils and specialty ingredients following the TerraVia acquisition.
Bio-based materials · 2018
PLA polymers
Total Corbion PLA produces polylactic-acid polymers made from lactic-acid-derived intermediates. PLA is used in packaging, consumer products, fibers, and other applications where bio-based or industrially compostable material properties are sought. The joint venture's principal production facility is located in Rayong, Thailand.
Food ingredients
Emulsifiers and functional ingredients
Corbion supplies emulsifiers, functional systems, and other formulation ingredients that help food manufacturers manage texture, stability, processing performance, and product quality. These ingredients serve industrial food applications rather than being marketed primarily as consumer products.
Brand decisions
2017
Acquire TerraViaM&ABackground
Corbion wanted to broaden its bio-based technology base beyond lactic-acid chemistry.
Action taken
Corbion acquired TerraVia, adding microalgae-derived oils, proteins, structured fats, and related biotechnology capabilities.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Corbion's offerings in food, animal nutrition, and biochemical applications.
2016
Create a PLA joint venture with TotalM&ABackground
Corbion sought to expand its lactic-acid platform into bio-based and biodegradable polymer materials.
Action taken
Corbion and Total established a 50/50 joint venture to produce and market polylactic-acid polymers.
Aftermath
The venture's Rayong, Thailand, PLA plant began operating in 2018 with stated annual capacity of 75,000 tonnes.
2012
Focus the company on bio-ingredientsStrategyBackground
CSM operated bakery businesses alongside its lactic-acid and other ingredient activities, but management identified bio-ingredients as the stronger long-term strategic focus.
Action taken
The company announced plans to sell its European and North American bakery activities and concentrate on Purac, Caravan Ingredients, and related bio-based businesses.
Aftermath
The bakery sale was completed in 2013. The remaining company changed its name to Corbion and became focused on food ingredients and biochemicals.
Recent events
- 2019
Corbion acquires Granotec do Brazil[1]
M&A
Corbion acquired Granotec do Brazil to strengthen its food-ingredient activities and expand in the Latin American market.
- 2018
Total Corbion PLA plant begins operations in Thailand[1]
Product launch
The joint venture announced the start-up of its Rayong, Thailand, PLA plant, described as having annual capacity of 75,000 tonnes.
- 2017
Corbion acquires TerraVia[1]
M&A
Corbion acquired TerraVia, a microalgae biotechnology company, adding algae-derived oils, proteins, structured fats, and omega-3 ingredients to its platform.
- 2016
Corbion and Total form a joint venture for PLA polymers[1]
M&A · Product launch
Corbion and Total established a 50/50 joint venture to develop, manufacture, and market polylactic-acid polymers.
- 2013
CSM sells bakery activities to Rhône Capital and adopts the Corbion name[1]
M&A
The company completed the sale of its European and North American bakery operations to Rhône Capital and changed its corporate name from CSM to Corbion.
- 2012
CSM announces plan to divest bakery activities and focus on bio-ingredients[1]
Other
CSM announced a strategic shift away from bakery supplies toward bio-ingredients, including its Purac and Caravan Ingredients businesses.
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