Marine Ingredients buys BASF's omega-3 plant in Norway

The US-based Marine Ingredients, a leading manufacturer of quality marine-based ingredients and customised products, has acquired BASF’s manufacturing facility for natural fish oils, medium-concentrated omega-3s, and customised bottled fish oil in Brattvag, Norway, for an undisclosed amount.
 
As part of the agreement, the 47 employees currently working in Brattvag will transfer from BASF to Marine Ingredients. With the acquisition, Marine Ingredients will gain control of omega-3 production, which is central to its business, thus expanding its ability to serve customers with tailor-made omega-3 products.  
 
BASF, one of the leading global players in omega-3s, focuses its activities on the market segment for highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acids, following the acquisitions of Equateq (now BASF Pharma Callanish) in 2012 and of Pronova Biopharma in 2013. Highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acids for consumer health, clinical nutrition and pharmaceutical products are one of the key growth areas for BASF’s Nutrition & Health division.
 
Due to increased awareness of its health benefits, omega-3 has become an increasingly important segment of the dietary supplement, functional food and pharmaceuticals market. Several thousand academic and clinical studies have investigated the potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Most of these studies identified omega-3 as beneficial for human health and highlighted its cardiovascular benefits.
 
Marine Ingredients, which has been in the omega-3 business since 1984, is a leading producer of quality omega-3 softgel and liquid formulations for brands serving health food stores, practitioners, direct response, the non-prescription medical market, direct selling and the mass market.