BASF Shifts Investment Focus

Mr. Rolf Dieter Acker, president of the Brazilian subsidiary of BASF, wants to grow in the polymers business, that represents only 7% of its turnover.

Plans are to invest in polymers the largest part of the US $260 mil investments earmarked to Brazil from 2000 to 2005, developing styrene, polystyrene, and acrylic polymers, as well as super absorbents polymers with applications in diapers and other hygiene products. BASF is to set up a super absorbents polymers plant in Brazil to start up in 2002 with capacity to produce 70,000 mtpy, and expanding BASF's overall chemicals capacity to 430,000 mtpy. The company is also to complete in 2001 a butyl acrylates unit at Guaratingueta, S=E3o Paulo state.