Plants: BASF invests in China to boost alkoxylate capacity; SRF commissions BOPET film plant in Hungary

German chemicals firm BASF will increase its alkoxylate capacity in Asia Pacific, with its latest investment in Jinshan, China. The company has acquired land, buildings and assets of SPC, related to alkoxylates production, adjoining the BASF Jinshan site, in order to fulfil the growing demand from customers across Asia Pacific, especially China. With the current alkoxylate line in the Care Chemicals Jinshan plant running at full capacity, this acquisition will help double the capacity at Jinshan from end 2020.

Alkoxylation technology is used in the manufacture of surfactants that are employed in a wide range of industry segments, including home care, formulations for laundry detergents, surface cleaners and dishwasher detergents, personal care, industrial and institutional cleaning applications as well as industrial formulations like in raw materials for the manufacture of plasticisers, emulsifiers for emulsion polymerisation, crop protection additives, and polyurethane foams for the rubber industry.

“This investment reinforces BASF’s commitment to China and makes Jinshan a significant production base for a range of products across the Care Chemicals portfolio in the region,” said Dr. Stephan Kothrade, President/Chairman Greater China, BASF.

“Expanding production capabilities in Asia to support our customers’ growth is a key pillar of our business strategy. We see multiple positive implications with this investment in Asia, including enhancing our supply chain to serve our customers more efficiently, establishing a stronger base for our innovate-to-market approach and providing future expansion possibilities on the site,” said Dr. Rajan Venkatesh, Senior Vice President, Care Chemicals, BASF Asia Pacific.

“We are seeing a rising demand for high-quality alkoxylates in the Asia Pacific market, especially in China. This strategic expansion will double our alkoxylates capacities in Jinshan and increase our overall capacity in Asia Pacific. We will focus on maximising synergies between the existing and new operations and supporting the growth of our customers and the market,” said Dr. Jianwen Mao, Vice President, Business Management Greater China, Home Care, Industrial & Institutional, and Industrial Formulators, Care Chemicals, BASF Asia Pacific.

Meanwhile in other news, Indian conglomerate SRF has recently commissioned its EUR80 million bi-axially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film manufacturing plant in Jaszfenyszaru, located 50 km east of Budapest, Hungary. The plant will have a capacity of 40,000 tonnes/year.

SRF says its plants will have a combined capacity of 220,000 tones/year of BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) and BOPET films.

As a result of its investment in Hungary, the Indian company says it will become one of the biggest BOPET and BOPP foil producers in the world.

The new plant will help in creating local jobs and playing an active role in the development of the local community in Hungary, said Kartik Bharat Ram, Deputy MD, SRF Limited.

(PRA)

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