BASF Expands Global Production Capacity of Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol (PTMEG)

BASF has increased its global annual capacity for the production of the chemical intermediate PolyTHF (chemical name: polytetra-methylene ether glycol - PTMEG) from 185,000 metric tons to 250,000 metric tons. The company has continuously developed and expanded its production processes. BASF also took measures to modernize and enhance the efficiency of its plants and ensured the supply of the raw materials it needs to manufacture PolyTHF. All in all, BASF invested more than 60 million euros.

BASF started up its first plant manufacturing PolyTHF at its integrated Verbund site in Ludwigshafen in 1983. Today BASF is the worlds most important and the only global supplier of PolyTHF and supports its customers growth in all regions with local manufacturing capabilities at its sites in Geismar, Louisiana, USA; Ludwigshafen, Germany; Ulsan, Korea; and Caojing, China.

"By expanding our PolyTHF capacities, we are moving in line with our customers steadily growing demand. We will continue to support our customers in the future around the world as a reliable partner," said Sanjeev Gandhi, President, BASF Intermediates division, and added, "Growth rates at our customers and in our business are highest in the Asia/Pacific region, the worlds major PolyTHF market today."

PolyTHF is primarily used to make elastic spandex fibers for a large variety of textiles, including underwear, outerwear, sportswear and swimsuits. It also serves as a chemical building block for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) used to make hoses, films and cable sheathing. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers for the production of wheels for skateboards and inline skates.

About BASF Intermediates

The BASF Groups Intermediates division develops, produces and markets a comprehensive portfolio of more than 600 intermediates around the world. The most important of the divisions product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. Among other applications, intermediates are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textile fibers, detergents and crop protectants. Innovative intermediates from BASF help to improve the properties of final products and the efficiency of production processes. The ISO 9001:2000-certified Intermediates division operates plants at production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Around the globe, 2,763 employees of the division generated sales to third parties of about ?.7 billion in 2011.

About BASF

BASF is one of the worlds leading chemical companies. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. It combines economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. It has summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: It creates chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about ?3.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS) London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).

Source: BASF