Construction of BASF Zhanjiang Integrated Base Project Group

Coating industry

Construction of the BASF Zhanjiang Integrated Base project group, which mainly includes neopentyl glycol (NPG) and citral devices, has commenced.

Stijn Brughmans, BASF Vice President, responsible for the operations and technology of the Intermediates Business Unit in the Asia Pacific region, and Tobias Gerber, BASF Vice President, responsible for asset management and investment in the Nutrition and Health Department, attended the commencement ceremony.

World-class NPG device

BASF strengthens its global distribution of neopentyl glycol. This new NPG device with an annual output of 80000 tons is expected to be put into production in the fourth quarter of 2025, when BASF's global NPG production capacity will increase to 335000 tons.

Currently, BASF has NPG production facilities in Nanjing and Jilin, China, Ludwigsport in Germany, and Freeport in the United States. The fifth NPG device invested in Zhanjiang will help support the growing market demand of Chinese customers, especially in the field of environmentally friendly powder coatings. At the same time, it will also bring us closer to customers in South China and further strengthen business contacts.

As an intermediate with high chemical and thermal stability properties, NPG is mainly used in the production of polyester resin for powder coatings, which can be applied to the coating of household appliances and window frames. Due to the low volatile organic compound (VOC) content of powder coatings, it can help customers meet VOC emission standards, reducing VOC emissions by up to 50% compared to solvent based coatings. NPG is also used in the manufacture of lubricants, plasticizers, and pharmaceuticals.

Citral plant

The project group also includes a citral plant. Earlier this month, BASF announced that it would invest in a new citral plant at the integrated base in Zhanjiang, China, and build downstream units of menthol and linalool at the integrated base in Ludwigshafen, Germany. These devices are expected to be put into production from 2026.

The driving force for this investment comes from the growing demand of the global essence and spice market, as well as BASF's firm commitment to sustainable development and transformation.

The citral plant in China will consolidate BASF's market position in key growth regions and expand the production scale of various aroma ingredients and more downstream products globally. At the same time, this investment will expand the production scale of BASF fragrance raw material citral value chain in Germany and Malaysia, achieve production diversification, and support customer growth.

Upon completion of the investment, BASF's annual production capacity of citral will increase to 118000 tons. Citral is the basic material of many spices and essence, as well as the upstream raw material of vitamin A, vitamin E and other products in the nutrition market.

World-class projects attract dragons to cross the "river"

In addition to building projects in full swing, the recruitment of talented people is also being comprehensively promoted. With advanced digital technology, BASF is committed to building an intelligent integrated production base in Zhanjiang, setting an example for sustainable production and operation in China and even the world. This high-profile project has attracted talents from various fields, including a group of interns, who have traveled to BASF's future third largest integrated production base in the world to carry out an internship trip. "Zhan" puts the future in perspective!