BASF to build new unit in its Zhanjiang Verbund base at S. China's Guangdong

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 27, 2022 shows a view of BASF Zhanjiang Verbund site which is under construction in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua)

German chemical giant BASF announced Tuesday it will build two new projects, including a citral unit in its Zhanjiang Verbund base at south China's Guangdong Province and a downstream menthol & linalool unit in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Shanghai Securities News reported.

The move is to meet the growing demand for raw materials from the global fragrance market, and the two new units are expected to begin production from 2026, advancing BASF's strong commitment to sustainable transformation, according to the company. 

Upon completion of the new units, BASF's annual capacity of citral will increase to 118,000 tonnes.

Thilo Bischoff, Senior Vice President of BASF Aroma Ingredients, said that the expansion of BASF's global production network benefits the customers in the flavor and fragrance industry by further strengthening supply security, adding that the company's investing in Zhanjiang is also a significant step towards sustainable production and addressing its customers' demands for products with smaller carbon footprint.

At its Zhanjiang Verbund base, BASF will further accelerate the process of renewable energy power supply, aiming to provide 100 percent renewable energy power to the entire Zhanjiang base by 2025.

The company will also implement advanced automation and process technologies at the base to optimize operations and reduce energy consumption and emissions.