BASF to invest in new plastic additives plant in Shanghai, China

• World-scale plant for plastic additives with a capacity of 42,000 tons p.a.
• Chinese market offers significant growth opportunities

Hong Kong – March 14, 2017 – As announced in November 2016, BASF is investing more than €200 million globally to increase its production network for plastic additives. An important step is an investment to build a new plastic additives plant at its Caojing site in Shanghai, China. This world-scale plant, with an annual capacity of 42,000 tons, will produce antioxidants and associated forms and blends. It is expected to be completed in 2019, with commercial production to start by early 2020.

“Asia, and particularly the Chinese market, offer significant growth opportunities, driven by diverse applications including packaging, construction, consumer goods, automotive and many more,” said Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President of BASF’s Performance Chemicals unit in Asia Pacific. “The plant will be built to reach high environmental standards and have one of the most efficient production processes. Located within the Caojing complex, it will also benefit from its proximity to our regional application center in Shanghai that provides technical support to polymer producers and to the converting industry within the region.”

Importance of antioxidants
Antioxidants help prevent thermal oxidation reactions when plastics are processed at high temperatures, and light-assisted oxidation when plastics are exposed to UV light. Oxidation can cause loss of impact strength, elongation, surface cracks and discoloration of the material. Almost all polymer materials undergo oxidative degradation reactions at one or all of the manufacturing, processing and end-use stages.

BASF runs a global production network and is the only supplier of plastic additives having production sites in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

About BASF Plastic Additives
BASF is a leading supplier, manufacturer and innovation partner of plastic additives. Its comprehensive and innovative product portfolio includes stabilizers which provide ease in processing, heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including molded articles, films, fibers, sheets and extruded profiles. More information about plastic additives: www.plasticadditives.basf.com

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

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