BASF Builds New Alkyl Polyglucoside Plant in Thailand, Expands Its Business Footprint in Asia

BASF has announced the construction of a new alkyl polyglucoside (APG) plant in Bangpakong, Thailand, to enhance its production capacity for sustainable surfactants and further expand its business presence in Asia. This move aims to strengthen its position in Asia’s growing markets through a robust regional network and to serve customers in a more agile and flexible manner.

The expansion is intended to reinforce BASF’s supply capabilities in one of its key growth regions. By building this new plant in Thailand, the company seeks to serve customers in the personal care, home care, and industrial sectors with greater flexibility and responsiveness.

The Bangpakong plant completes BASF’s global APG production network, which already includes facilities in Düsseldorf, Germany; Jinshan, China; and Cincinnati, USA. The company also noted that a new APG production line in Cincinnati is planned to start up in 2026.

APGs are bio-based and readily biodegradable surfactants made from 100% naturally renewable raw materials. As nonionic surfactants, they blend well with other surfactants and are widely used in personal care, home care, industrial and institutional cleaning, industrial formulations, and agriculture.

From a broader perspective, this investment aligns with a plan BASF announced as early as June 2023, when the company proposed expanding APG capacity in both Bangpakong and Cincinnati. The expansion was viewed as a way to reduce cross-regional transportation volumes and improve responsiveness to local markets.

The completion of the plant demonstrates BASF’s long-term commitment to sustainable surfactant chemistry and its determination to maintain a strong and regionally balanced production network. By localizing production closer to its Asian customer base, BASF can respond more quickly to market growth and to the evolving demand for green, bio-based chemical solutions.