BASF Launches Global Expansion Plan for Aroma Ingredients

BASF has significantly expanded the global scale of its aroma ingredients supply chain through the construction of three world-scale production facilities under its aroma ingredients business division.

The new facilities include menthol and linalool plants located in Ludwigshafen, as well as a citral plant in Zhanjiang. The move follows the official startup of BASF’s Zhanjiang Verbund site on March 26, 2026. In Ludwigshafen alone, BASF invested several hundred million euros, highlighting the scale of its commitment to the fragrance and flavor ingredients sector.

The newly built citral facility in Zhanjiang will supply both the local Chinese market and downstream expanded production units in Germany, serving as a key feedstock source for menthol and linalool manufacturing.

Menthol is widely used in oral care products, personal care applications, confectionery flavoring, and pharmaceuticals. Linalool, a lavender-scented ingredient, is commonly used in laundry care, home care, personal care products, and fine fragrances.

According to BASF, integrating the new downstream capacities into its Ludwigshafen Verbund site enables more efficient utilization of existing infrastructure, technical expertise, and advanced production systems.

Katja Scharpwinkel, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and Site Director of Ludwigshafen, stated:
“These investments highlight the advantages of integrated production within BASF’s global manufacturing network and represent a clear commitment to the Ludwigshafen site.”

Construction at all three facilities began following groundbreaking ceremonies in June 2023. Since early 2026, the Zhanjiang citral plant and the expanded Ludwigshafen facilities have already begun producing on-specification products, with customer deliveries starting in April 2026.

The additional capacities strengthen BASF’s position in the highly competitive flavor and fragrance ingredients market by improving supply security and increasing output for high-demand aroma ingredients.

Steffen Goetz said:“This investment demonstrates our strong commitment to growing together with customers in the flavor and fragrance industries.”

He added:“These major integrated investment projects across two continents were completed safely, on schedule, on budget, and according to plan. With the new capacities, we now operate one of the industry’s broadest asset networks, enabling us to provide customers with a highly reliable and secure supply.”