BASF continues to expand its position as leading global supplier of the chemical intermediate 1.4 butanediol (BDO) and its derivative polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), also known as PolyTHF. Over the next two years, output capability for BDO will be expanded to 650,000 t/y (from 535,000 t/y currently) and for PolyTHF to 350,000 t/y (from 250,000 t/y). Investment will be in the "double-digit euro range."

By 2015, new production facilities for 100,000 t/y of BDO and 50,000 t/y of PolyTHF are due to go on stream at Korla in China's Xinjiang province in cooperation with local producer Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry Co. Product will be marketed to regional customers.

Since 2012, the German group has widened capacity for PolyTHF from 185,000 t/y to 250,000 t/y. It has not identified where the new capacity will come from, saying only that incremental increases can be expected at all four production sites.