10.11.11
BASF is strengthening its position in the superabsorbent polymers market through investment in Brazil and China. “With these two projects, we will accompany rapid growth of the emerging markets of South America and China,” said Gabriel Tanbourgi, president of BASF’s Care Chemicals division. “Local production allows us to serve our customers more flexibly and reliably.”
In Brazil, BASF will build a 60,000-ton facility in Camacari where production is set to begin in late 2014, while in China, BASF-YPC, a joint venture with Sinopec, will start constructing a 60,000 ton line in Nanjing next year. Commercial production is also expected to start there in 2014.
Both plants will be built with the latest state-of-the-art technology and be backward integrated into acrylic acid production. These investments will allow BASF customers in emerging markets to set the trends in markets for diapers, adult incontinence products and feminine hygiene applications. “Baby diapers particularly become thinner and thinner,” says Teresa Szelest, senior vice president of the global business unit hygiene. “With our new superabsorbent polymers, our customers are able to produce these new diaper generations.”
BASF is also conducting a feasibility study to evaluable the technical and economic viability of constructing an integrated SAP plant in Kuantan, Malaysia.