BASF is investing more than €200 million to expand US production capacity for key herbicides dicamba and DMTA at its Beaumont, Texas, site and upgrade production at Hannibal, Missouri.

The German-based group said the investments will coincide with the planned launch of more than 20 different innovations for the agricultural industry from its North American R&D pipeline. One of the highlights will be the new Engenia herbicide, an advanced dicamba formulation, to be launched in 2015.

The product will help growers to control resistant weeds in key row crops and also serve as a key component of dicamba/glyphosate tolerant cropping systems, BASF said.

Additional innovations include the miticides Nealta for specialty crops and Sultan for turf and ornamentals, for residual control of mites at all life stages. Functional from 2015, the group will launch a new family of seed coating products based on Xemium fungicide as well as Limus urease inhibitor.

With capacities expected to be on line in 2016-17, the world's largest chemical producer said the expansions are designed to meet the growing demand for its diverse herbicide portfolio, which features nine different modes of action and multi-year rotational plans for flexible and durable weed control.

BASF said it is evaluating additional investments as part of its plan to spend approximately €1.8 billion between 2014 and 2018 to increase production of its crop protection products worldwide.