Factbook
Care Chemicals
BASF’s Care Chemicals division is a globally leading supplier to the cosmetics, detergents and cleaning industries. We also offer solutions for technical applications and crop protection. Together with our customers, we create innovative solutions to meet the current and future needs of society more sustainably. We contribute to the long-term success of our customers’ brands with a broad range of products and concepts via our global network of production and development sites.
Sales by region 2023 (location of customer)
Sales by direct customer industry 2023
Portfolio
Home care and industrial & institutional cleaning
We develop, produce and market a wide range of ingredients for detergents and cleaning solutions worldwide. As the innovation leader in this market, we offer choices to our customers and provide the best-possible solutions to successfully cater to today’s and tomorrow’s market needs and changing regulatory requirements. Our strong R&D base and in-depth market and application expertise set us apart from the competition while making us the partner of choice for formulators of efficient, convenient, sustainable and safe-to-use detergents and other cleaning products. Our portfolio, which is constantly being further developed, includes surfactants, enzymes, water-soluble polymers, chelating agents, biocides, optical effect products, stabilizers and methanesulfonic acid.
Industrial formulators
We develop and commercialize a broad portfolio of processing aids, differentiating additives and surface-active building blocks for a wide range of industrial applications and further downstream processing. With our formulation know-how and understanding of the physicochemical properties of our products, we enable customer-specific solutions. In addition, we market an extensive portfolio of performance enhancers to crop protection and plant nutrition companies. Our product portfolio includes dispersants, emulsifiers, surface modifiers, solvents, chelating agents, biocides, micronutrients and methanesulfonic acid.
Personal care
We offer high-quality, value-adding and sustainable ingredients for the personal care industry. Our focus on consumer trends and our ability to innovate and bring new products rapidly to market contribute strongly to the success of our customers. We take into consideration the entire value chain to develop sustainable solutions. The personal care product range includes surfactants and emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, cosmetic active ingredients and UV filters.
Our business approach draws its inspiration for products and concepts from consumers and society. We strive to make BASF’s personal care business a valued partner for the industry in terms of scientific excellence, market knowledge and agility.
BASF’s market position and main competitors
The Care Chemicals division holds one of the top three market positions in all strategic business areas in which it is active.
The main competitors (alphabetical order) include Clariant, Croda, Dow, Evonik, Sasol, Stepan, Syensqo and Zanyu.
Focus of research and development
We are committed to delivering innovative and sustainable products and solutions in close collaboration with customers in our core markets, with a strong focus on bio-based and biodegradable ingredients. With process innovation in our core technologies, we target continuous capacity and yield improvement to ensure competitiveness and reduce carbon footprints. We systematically identify and establish new technologies to best support our customers in driving innovation for end consumers.
Acquisitions/JVs/investments
From 2021 onward
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Alkoxylates | Capacity expansion in Antwerp, Belgium | 2023 |
| Alkylpolyglucosides (APG) | Expansion of global capacities in Bangpakong, Thailand, and Cincinnati, Ohio | 2025 |
| Enzymes | Investment in production setup for bacterial enzymes and biotechnology products, Kundl/Schaftenau, Austria | 2024 |
| Methanesulfonic acid |
Capacity expansion in Ludwigshafen, Germany |
2022 |
| Optical brighteners | Capacity expansion in Monthey, Switzerland | 2022 |
| UV filters | New plant in Jinshan, China | 2023 |
Divestitures/shutdowns
From 2021 onward
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Surfactants | Divestiture of anionic surfactants business in Kankakee, Illinois | 2021 |
Major nameplate capacities of BASF1
Thousand metric tons per year
| Product group | Location | Capacity |
| Anionic surfactants | Europe, North America, South America, Asia Pacific | 550 |
| Chelating agents | Europe, North America, South America | 170 |
| Methanesulfonic acid | Europe | 50 |
| Nonionic surfactants | Europe, North America, Asia Pacific | 650 |
1 All capacities are included 100%, including plants belonging to joint operations and joint ventures.
Innovation example
© GettyImages
Sustainable anti-redeposition performance
BASF’s latest anti-redeposition polymer, BVERDE® GP 790 L, addresses the increasing demand from customers for cleaning products that prioritize sustainability without sacrificing performance. It is a grafted polysaccharide polymer that is 79% bio-based and readily biodegradable. This new polymer is highly compatible with standard laundry liquid detergent formulations, resulting in a clear and uniform product. In contrast to the current market incumbent ingredient, polyacrylic acid (PAA), which is not biodegradable, BVERDE® offers performance parity while maintaining sustainability credentials.