BASF’s Zhanjiang Integrated Site Commissions New Neopentyl Glycol (NPG) Unit

BASF has announced the start-up of a new neopentyl glycol (NPG) unit at its Zhanjiang integrated site, significantly increasing the company’s global production capacity.

The new unit will raise BASF’s global NPG capacity from 255,000  tons per year to 335,000 tons per year, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading NPG manufacturer. NPG is a key intermediate widely used in the production of powder coating resins. The first shipments to customers were made in October.

BASF is also introducing a low-product-carbon-footprint NPG produced at the Zhanjiang site. Preliminary assessments indicate that the product carbon footprint of NPG from Zhanjiang is lower than that of comparable NPG products made at BASF’s existing NPG plants in Asia. This improvement is mainly due to the site’s efficient production technology, integration advantages, the use of lower-carbon chemical feedstocks, and 100% renewable electricity.

The expansion enables BASF to respond more quickly to the growing demand in the Asia-Pacific region — particularly in China — for low-emission powder coatings.

“The new NPG plant will strengthen our local production footprint and improve our speed and capability to respond to demand,” said Michael Becker, Senior Vice President, Intermediates, Asia Pacific, BASF. “This brings us one step closer to our goal of becoming the preferred partner for sustainable intermediates.”

The Zhanjiang integrated site is BASF’s largest investment. Upon completion in 2030, the project is expected to represent an investment of up to €10 billion and to become BASF’s third-largest integrated site worldwide.