November 5, 2025 14:52
Following the startup of its engineering plastics plant in 2022 and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) unit in 2024, BASF is preparing to activate the core of its new integrated chemical hub (“Verbund”) in Zhanjiang, China.
Once completed — around 2030 — the site will become BASF’s third-largest Verbund globally, after Ludwigshafen in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium. It is designed to meet the growing demand for chemical products in China and the Asia-Pacific region.
“By leveraging the latest technologies and applying the highest safety standards, our Zhanjiang Verbund site is strategically positioned to deliver high-quality, low-carbon-footprint chemical products to rapidly growing markets,” said Haryono Lim, president, Mega Projects Asia, BASF. “The successful production of the first products from the core of the Verbund lays a solid foundation for the site’s startup as of the end of 2025.”
Construction of the first facilities began five years ago, but it wasn’t until July 2022 that BASF made the final investment decision for the site’s core: a steam cracker with a capacity of 1 million metric tons of ethylene per year, designed to feed several downstream units producing petrochemicals, intermediates and plastics (HDPE).
Among the plants already in operation is the butyl acrylate unit, which began production in August with an annual capacity of 400,000 metric tons.
According to BASF, construction of the site is proceeding on schedule and under budget. Total capital expenditures are now estimated at €8.7 billion, down from the €10 billion initially projected.
“The extraordinary progress at our Zhanjiang Verbund site represents a major step forward in BASF’s local-for-local production approach,” said Markus Kamieth, chairman of the board of executive directors, BASF SE. “In the mid to long term, the Zhanjiang Verbund site will play a pivotal role in strengthening BASF’s core businesses and driving sustainable growth across key markets.”
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