BASF Expands Ethylene Oxide Complex in Antwerp

BASF invested over 500 million euros (Equivalent to 3.86 billion yuan) to increase its production capacity by 400,000 metric tons per year. The expansion includes a world-scale ethylene oxide plant and additional capacities for EO derivatives. This investment aims to meet the rising customer demand for alkoxylates in the home care, industrial & institutional industries, and various industrial applications.

"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", says Jan Remeysen, CEO of BASF Antwerp.

As early as 2018, BASF began planning to upgrade a large-scale integrated ethylene oxide plant and additional capacities, and in 2019, the plan was confirmed to be implemented at the integrated plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

"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 comprises a second world-scale ethylene oxide plant, including capacity for purified ethylene oxide.

Apart from ethylene oxide, this investment encompasses expanded capacities for alkoxylates, which are ethylene oxide derivatives with versatile applications, including use in detergent and cleaning products, as well as in the automotive and construction industries.

"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", says Mary Kurian, President Care Chemicals, BASF.

Alkoxylates is a derivative of ethylene oxide and is used in the production of surfactants for the home care industry as well as various applications for industrial and institutional cleaning, where BASF's downstream customers use these surfactants in the formulation of washing powders, detergents and dishwashing products.

At present, the situation of chemical market showing a trend of differentiation is gradually obvious. BASF has also conveyed to the outside world or will sell the commercial value of up to 10 billion euros of the four businesses of the news, the official launch of the expansion project may be BASF in order to cope with the economic downturn and make action. As previously mentioned: in the next decade, the chemical industry will face a new cycle of change, including the expansion of chemical boundaries and the reshaping of the competitiveness of global chemical enterprises.