Stephan Kothrade, president and chairman of BASF Greater China, said the  envisioned investment bundle will introduce new state-of-the-art technologies to Nanjing and use the Verbund’s advantages to the fullest. Kothrade said the plans build on a letter of intent the German group signed with its Chinese partner in 2018 and represent a “substantial step” toward further strengthening this long-term partnership.

All new capacities are due to come on stream in 2023. The output will supply a broad range of Chinese applications, including agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, fragrances and plastics as well as glycol ethers and surfactants.

In a major new investment, a tert-butyl acrylate (TBA) unit will be added at Nanjing, widening the integrated production network BASF calls Verbund. The plant will be fed by acrylic acid and isobutene produced on-site. It will be the first time this advanced production technology has been applied outside Germany.

“Tert-butyl acrylate as a new product in our portfolio will further strengthen the market position of BASF-YPC,” said Bram Jansen, the jv’s president. “Based on the 20-year success, we are expanding the local capacities to better meet the continually rising demand of our customers,” he said. As an acrylic acid ester, TBA is used in polymer production as well as a feedstock for syntheses. As a specialty chemical it is used in paper sizing and emulsion applications.

Commenting on the plans from the Chinese side, Yuefeng Gu, chairman of Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company and BASF-YPC, said “Sinopec and BASF have carried out in-depth and friendly cooperation for a long time, earnestly implemented relevant requirements of the national and local governments to accelerate the transformation and green development of the petrochemical industry, continuously optimized the industrial structure and promoted further extension of the industrial chain to the downstream.”

With the expansion of the Verbund site, Gu said the joint venture will provide more high-end new materials for the domestic market to meet the growing needs of domestic customers and the development of emerging industries.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist