Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens grew on a minimal salts medium containing wood hydrolysate (equivalent to 27 g glucose l−1) and, when supplemented with 10 g corn steep liquor l−1 as a complex nitrogen source, succinic acid at 24 g l−1 was obtained (yield = 88% w/w glucose). This may therefore be an economical method to produce succinic acid.