In line with its customer-oriented corporate strategy, BASF has expanded its capacities for ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives at the Belgian Verbund site in Antwerp. The investment increases BASF's production capacity for the corresponding products by about 400,000 metric tons per year. The investment of more than €500 million includes a second world-scale production line for ethylene oxide, including capacities for high-purity ethylene oxide.
“With the new plants we are supporting the continuous growth of our customers and are enhancing our market position in Europe,” says Hartwig Michels, President Petrochemicals, BASF. The investment, exceeding €500 million, comprises a second world-scale ethylene oxide plant, including capacity for purified ethylene oxide.
In addition to ethylene oxide, the investment includes additional capacities for alkoxylates, which are derivatives of ethylene oxide and used in a wide range of applications such as in detergent and cleaning, automotive and construction industry. “Acting with the future in mind is key to our continued success in the European market. With this expansion, we will accelerate growth for us and our customers in Europe”, explains Mary Kurian, President Care Chemicals, BASF. The expanded ethylene oxide and derivatives complex is also a major investment for the site in Antwerp. “The investment underlines the importance of our site for the BASF-group and creates further opportunities. To operate these world-scale installations, BASF Antwerp welcomed over 100 new colleagues; this number comes on top of the regular hires.”, adds Jan Remeysen, CEO of BASF Antwerp.
The Petrochemicals division is the starting point of the company's petrochemical value chains worldwide. In this segment, the chemical group operates plants that are characterised by a high level of safety, sustainability, operational excellence and cost competitiveness. Using best-in-class technologies, they are located at five other Verbund sites and several larger production sites in addition to Antwerp. The division supplies high-value chemicals to diverse value chains within the company and to a variety of customer industries, contributing to organic growth. The portfolio includes cracker products, industrial gases, acrylic monomers and acrylates, superabsorbents, styrene foams, alkylene oxides, glycols, alcohols, solvents and plasticisers. In 2022, the Petrochemicals division has achieved a turnover with third parties of around €10.6 billion.
