BASF India inaugurates new €150 Million Production Hub

BASF India has inaugurated a €150 million chemical production complex at Dahej in India's Gujarat state. It is the German group's single largest investment in the country.

The integrated hub, which boasts what BASF calls South Asia's first MDI splitter, also includes production facilities for polyurethanes - including polyols, PU systems and their microcellular polyurethane components marketed under the Cellasto trademark.

Other plants within the complex produce care chemicals and polymer dispersions.

Board member Michael Heinz said the project is part of BASF's plan to invest more than €10 billion in Asia-Pacific between 2013 and 2020.

Raman Ramachandran, chairman of BASF Companies in India and head of the group's South Asia business, said that with the MDI splitter the world's largest chemical producer is "well positioned" to increase its long-term competitiveness significantly in this key market.

The care chemicals facility at Dahej has the first BASF sulfation plant in India, catering to customers in the consumer goods sector.

BASF said the polymer dispersions plant will expand its footprint in the dispersions business and complementing the Mangalore facility.

The site currently employs 200 people directly and 300 people indirectly. Direct employment soon will be offered to 50 additional people, the German group said.