BASF has inaugurated a wholly owned 100,000 t/y plant for PA 6 and PA 6.6, sold under the "Ultramid" trademark, at Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP).

The new facility, the German group's first investment in polyamide in China, "shows our strong commitment to this market," said CEO Kurt Bock. The "innovative production setup" will allow BASF to supply its customers more quickly and with more flexibility, he added.

Albert Heuser, BASF's chief executive for Greater China, said the investment reflects management's confidence that demand for PA from the region's engineering plastics, fiber and film industries will continue to grow strongly.

Reports say caprolactam feedstock for the Chinese PA 6 plant will be supplied in part from BAFS's European production, with additional volumes to be procured locally, probably from an adjacent plant owned by US polyamide specialist Invista.

The US company is also building a PA plant at the site, earmarked for start-up later this year.

BASF is also a partner in an integrated world-scale isocyanates production at SCIP. Together with US polyurethanes specialist Huntsman, other partners in the Lianheng Isocyanate joint venture include several Chinese firms.

The joint venture recently received permission to doubling its MDI capacity to 480,000 t/y.