• A diversified product portfolio further consolidates BASF’s market position in China
• Establishing a new benchmark for sustainable chemical manufacturing
• Powered by 100% renewable energy

March 26, 2026 – BASF held a ceremony in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, to celebrate the full commissioning of its newly built world-class integrated production site. Covering an area of approximately 4 square kilometers, the site represents a major investment by BASF in China’s growing chemical market. "The Zhanjiang Integrated Site showcases the future of the chemical industry: it integrates efficiency, digitalization and sustainability from the design stage, fully embodying an intelligently integrated structure on an industrial scale," said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE at the ceremony. The event was also attended by representatives from government authorities, customers, business partners and employees.

Employing more than 2,000 staff members, the BASF Zhanjiang Integrated Site manufactures a diversified range of products including basic chemicals, intermediates and specialty chemicals, serving industries such as transportation, consumer goods, electronics, home care and personal care.

Dr. Martin Brudermüller added, "Transforming this site from blueprint to reality required absolute dedication, agility and extraordinary determination from the entire BASF team. Completing such a large-scale and highly complex project on schedule and within budget was an exceptional achievement. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved, both on-site and across the globe, for making this milestone possible." He further noted, "This investment demonstrates our firm commitment to long-term development in the world’s largest chemical market and constitutes a key pillar of BASF’s corporate strategy 'Winning Ways'. Most products manufactured at the Zhanjiang site will be supplied directly to the Chinese market, fully aligning with BASF’s global strategy of producing locally for local markets. The project was delivered as planned with a total investment of approximately 8.7 billion euros, well below the initial budget.

Dr. Melody Chen, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Technology Officer of BASF SE, emphasized, "I am proud of BASF’s strong innovation capabilities, which have laid a solid foundation for the full commissioning of this highly sustainable integrated chemical site in China and the record-fast successful startup of its steam cracker complex." He continued, "The Zhanjiang Integrated Site sets a new benchmark for sustainable chemical production across China and the world."

Through integrated operations, process innovation and the adoption of renewable energy, the Zhanjiang site can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50% compared with traditional petrochemical sites. Thanks to long-term direct renewable energy procurement agreements and investments in offshore wind farms, the site is powered entirely by renewable energy. "These innovative technologies have also been applied to the steam cracker complex, the starting point of numerous value chains at the Zhanjiang Integrated Site," Dr. Melody Chen added. The site features the world’s first steam cracker complex whose main electric-driven compressors run entirely on renewable energy. With an annual production capacity of 1 million metric tons, it delivers high-quality products with a low carbon footprint. This world-class flexible-feed steam cracker complex can process a variety of raw materials including naphtha and butane.

The Zhanjiang Integrated Site now operates 18 commissioned plants and 32 production lines, manufacturing more than 70 product varieties. The proven integrated model leverages long value chains to offer an extensive and highly diversified product portfolio covering chemicals, materials, nutrition and care segments. In addition, integration and economies of scale enable a cost-competitive structure, significantly lower carbon emissions and ensure reliable supply for multiple end-market sectors. "This positions us as an attractive partner for customers across China," said Lim Han Ping, President of Large Projects Asia at BASF. "We will work closely with customers and partners to drive innovation and industrial transformation in one of China’s most economically dynamic regions." The Zhanjiang Integrated Site serves as a vital platform supporting BASF’s future growth in China.

BASF announced the Zhanjiang integrated project in 2018 and kicked off construction the following year. Its first plant, producing engineering plastics, was commissioned in 2022, followed by the startup of the thermoplastic polyurethane plant in 2024. At the turn of 2025 and 2026, the core facilities of the Zhanjiang Integrated Site launched initial production, and the steam cracker complex was successfully commissioned on schedule within a record-short timeframe.

The Zhanjiang Integrated Site is BASF’s seventh global integrated production hub and its third largest worldwide, after Ludwigshafen in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium. The site is fully operated and managed independently by BASF.

With a presence in China spanning over 140 years, BASF’s business covers nearly all key industrial sectors. The company has built a robust production, sales and innovation network across China, featuring large-scale production sites in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing and Zhanjiang, alongside numerous smaller manufacturing facilities nationwide. In 2025, BASF generated sales of around 8.2 billion euros to customers in Greater China, with nearly 13,000 employees in the region by the end of the year.