BASF Announces Production Expansion in China!

New line features cutting-edge energy recovery technology for industry-leading carbon footprint.

The new capacity is scheduled to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2022 to support growing market demand.

On June 15, BASF announced on its official website that a joint venture company controlled by BASF in China (BASF shares: 51%; Shanshan shares: 49%) - BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as BASF Shanshan) Shan) is expanding its battery material production capacity at its Changsha, Hunan and Shizuishan bases in Ningxia to meet local and global demand for the fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

The expansion project will increase the annual production capacity of BASF Shanshan's cathode active materials (CAM) to 100,000 tons.

It is reported that the design of BASF's new Shanshan production line is highly flexible and can be used to manufacture an advanced cathode active material product portfolio to meet the diverse needs of customers, including polycrystalline and monocrystalline high-nickel and ultra-high nickel-nickel-cobalt-manganese ( NCM) oxides, and manganese-rich (Mn-rich) nickel-cobalt-manganese products.

At present, BASF Shanshan's manganese-rich products have achieved ton-scale production. The development process of this material will be further accelerated and its application in the client-side widened.

Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, President of BASF's Catalysts Business Unit, said: "Compared with other ternary cathode materials, our manganese-rich products can achieve a better balance in terms of cost-effectiveness and provide customers with more Excellent low metal cost protection, mainly because manganese is the most resource-rich metal compared to cobalt or nickel, which have seen significant price increases and volatility recently.”

Dr. Michael Baier, Senior Vice President of BASF Battery Materials and Chairman of BASF Shanshan, added: "With the synergy of R&D and production technologies, we are delighted that BASF's chemical knowledge will become A catalyst for a sustainable cathode active material product supply while achieving an industry-leading carbon footprint."

Yang Jie, CEO of BASF Shanshan, said: "We continue to upgrade BASF Shanshan's production and environmental protection facilities to reach the advanced level at home and abroad. In addition, we continue to advance the company's commitment to customers and employees, making BASF Shanshan the industry leader. A leading producer of environmentally friendly and responsible cathode active materials."

The first batch of new production lines after the expansion will start running in the fourth quarter of 2022.