BASF invests and secures “significant” surfactant production capacity for European home care

07 Jun 2023 --- Chemical supplier BASF will be bringing additional alkoxylation capacity on stream in Antwerp, Belgium, and Ludwigshafen, Germany starting from the second quarter of the year. Alkoxylation is used to produce surfactants for the home care industry and for other industrial and institutional cleaning applications.      

The company shares that its customers use surfactants produced from alkoxylation in the formulation of laundry detergents, cleaning agents and dishwashing products.

“With this expansion, we are strengthening our position in Europe and opening up important growth opportunities in the European market through a wide range of applications such as in the detergents and cleaners, automotive and construction industries,”says Mary Kurian, president of care chemicals at BASF.

The business move is noted to be a response to a “growing EU demand” for alkoxylates.

Long-term capacity secured
BASF touts that the investment will benefit EU customers with “a significant capacity increase well in excess of 150,000 metric tons per year.”BASF invests in Alkoxylation production.

“This capacity expansion, implemented despite the challenges faced over the past few years, gives our customers enhanced flexibility and supply security. It is in response to the long-term increase in demand for alkoxylates and reinforces our market leadership in this growing segment,” adds Soeren Hildebrandt, SVP of home care, I&I and industrial formulators Europe at BASF. 

The capacity increase is also part of the expansion of ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives at the Belgian Verbund site in Antwerp. It also includes investment in a “second world-scale” ethylene oxide production line, including purified ethylene oxide capacity.

“Ethylene oxide (also abbreviated EO and EtO) is a versatile compound used in the production of other chemicals for a variety of industrial applications and everyday consumer products, including household cleaners, personal care items and fabrics,” outlines ChemicalSafetyFacts, a platform of the American Chemical Council, which represents more than 190 companies in the sector. 

BASF in headlines
Earlier this year, BASF Personal Care presented its digitalization “Re_think” concept for health, environmental sustainability and supply chain transparency. Its Surfactant Navigator and SFA Formulator enable it to digitally support customers with sustainable formulations

Menthol and linalool downstream plants at BASF’s Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany and a new citral plant at BASF’s Verbund site in Zhanjiang, China, are expected to boost the company’s aroma ingredients portfolio from 2026 onward.

Meanwhile, BASF’s preliminary numbers for the first quarter were “considerably lower than average analyst estimates,” with the company predicting a decline in sales.

By Venya Patel

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