BASF has inaugurated its new $270 million world-scale production complex for dicamba, the active ingredient in its Engenia herbicide, at its Beaumont, Texas, site. The German group received permission to produce the chemical from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December of last year.

The Ludwigshafen-based chemical giant has invested more than $370 million over the past five years to expand its overall manufacturing capability at Beaumont, and Markus Heldt, president of the Crop Protection division, said the latest investment – for which capacity was not quantified – is the largest ever, expanding output capability at the Texas site by 50%.

In addition to Beaumont, BASF has invested more than $290 million in eight other agricultural products facilities, along with other facilities that support its agricultural business across North America, said Paul Rea, senior vice president, Crop Protection North America. The latest expansion reflects the group’s commitment to North America and to driving strategic investments to match customers’ expectations, executives said.

With more than 50 years of technical expertise with dicamba, BASF said it continues to advance the molecule’s performance, effectiveness and on-target application. Engenia features a completely new formulated dicamba molecule, known as BAPMA salt, which is designed specifically for dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.

The US launch kicks off BASF’s global introduction of Engenia. In the “near future,” the group said, it will offer its new herbicide solution to markets in Latin America.