BASF has broken ground at its Shanghai Chemical Industry Park site for the German group’s first process catalysts manufacturing facility in Asia-Pacific. The new facility, set to go on stream on in the fourth quarter of 2016, will produce base metal catalysts, custom catalysts and adsorbents used in production fatty alcohols, sulfuric acid and butanediol as well as for the removal of impurities from olefins.

Demand is expected to come from the growing Chinese and Asian markets.  At full capacity, the plant will create 75 new jobs. BASF said the facility offers the opportunity for future expansion and the flexibility to adapt to new customer production requirements in future.

“Today’s groundbreaking event is a significant milestone in our effort to strengthen our manufacturing footprint in Asia Pacific and improve our proximity to customers in the fastest growing region for our base metal and custom catalysts solutions,” said Detlef Ruff, BASF’s senior vice president, Process Catalysts.