BASF said it is investing a double-digit million euro to "significantly expand" its capacity for about 20 specialty amines at the Ludwigshafen headquarters site. The products are used to manufacture coatings, lubricants, crop protection products and pharmaceuticals.

The expanded capacity is planned to go on stream gradually from early 2017 and strengthen the German group' worldwide amine production network, including - in addition to Ludwigshafen - plants at Schwarzheide, Germany, Antwerp, Belgium, Geismar, Louisiana, USA, and Nanjing, China.

Two new multiple-product plants for specialty amines announced last year are due to start up later this year at Ludwigshafen and Nanjing, China.

This investment will allow BASF to meet the growing demand from European customers and strengthen its leading market position, said Stefan Blank, president of the group's Intermediates division.

With about 200 different amines, BASF claims to have the world's most diverse portfolio of this type of chemical intermediate.