...and I will be selling soon?
The newly built Verbund site in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in southern China, with an area of around four square kilometers, is more than just a major project for BASF in the growth market of China.
Zanjiang shows what the future of chemistry looks like: efficient, digital and consciously sustainable from the outset. The site demonstrates a smart integrated Verbund structure on an industrial scale," said Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, at the ceremony, which was attended by government representatives, customers, business partners and employees.
At the Zhanjiang site, BASF employs more than 2,000 people and will produce a diversified portfolio that includes basic chemicals, intermediates and specialty chemicals for the transportation, consumer goods, electronics, household cleaning and personal care sectors.
"Getting this site up and running required the determination, speed and exceptional commitment of our BASF team. Completing a project of this magnitude on time and under budget is remarkable - and I would like to thank everyone involved both locally and globally who made it possible," said Kamieth. "This investment demonstrates long-term confidence in the world's largest chemical market and is an important building block in our 'Winning Ways' strategy," he added.
The majority of the products manufactured in Zhanjiang will be supplied directly to customers in China, in line with BASF's local-for-local strategy worldwide. The project was completed on time and well below the original budget; the investment amounts to around EUR 8.7 billion.
"I am proud of BASF's innovative strength, which forms the basis for the launch of the most sustainable integrated chemical site in China," said Stephan Kothrade, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Technology Officer of BASF, who is responsible for the Asia-Pacific region. "It sets new standards for sustainable chemical production in China and worldwide," said Kothrade.
By using Verbund integration, process innovations and renewable energy, CO2 emissions at the Zhanjiang site can be reduced by up to 50% compared to a conventional petrochemical site. Long-term green power purchase agreements and investments in an offshore wind farm ensure that the plant's power supply is 100% renewable. "Innovative technologies are also used for the steam cracker - the starting point for various value chains in the network," says Kothrade. The steam cracker has a capacity of 1 million tons of ethylene per year and is the world's first cracker whose main compressors (e-drives) are powered 100% by renewable energy, which supports the production of high-quality, low-CO2 products. The flex-feed steam cracker is designed to process various feedstocks such as naphtha.
BASF has successfully ramped up 18 plants at the Zhanjiang site, put 32 production lines into operation and manufactures more than 70 products there. With its proven Verbund concept and long value chains, BASF offers a broad, highly diversified product portfolio from the Chemicals, Materials and Nutrition & Care segments. Integration and scaling enable competitive cost positions, significantly lower CO₂ emissions and a reliable supply for numerous sales markets. "This makes us an attractive partner for our customers in China," says Haryono Lim, President, Mega Projects Asia, BASF. "Together with customers and partners, we will drive innovation and transformation in one of China's most economically dynamic regions," adds Lim. The site therefore provides an important platform for BASF's future growth in China.
BASF announced the Zhanjiang project in 2018 and laid the foundation stone the following year. The first plant to go into operation at the Zhanjiang site was a production plant for engineering plastics in 2022, followed by a plant for the production of thermoplastic polyurethanes in 2024. At the turn of the year 2025/2026, BASF started production of the first value chains in the Verbund and successfully ramped up the steam cracker in record time. Zhanjiang is BASF's seventh Verbund site worldwide and the third largest after Ludwigshafen (Germany) and Antwerp (Belgium). It is operated entirely under the responsibility of BASF. BASF has been operating in Greater China for over 140 years. Today, BASF serves almost all major industries in the region. BASF has a strong production, distribution and innovation presence in China with major sites in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing and Zhanjiang as well as numerous smaller plants across the country. In 2025, BASF generated sales of around EUR 8.2 billion with customers in Greater China and employed almost 13,000 people.