• The entire core of the Verbund expected to be ready for startup by the end of 2025
• New capacities will strengthen BASF’s core businesses in growing markets in China and across Asia Pacific

BASF has successfully commenced production of the first products from the core of the Verbund at its Zhanjiang Verbund site in South China, marking a significant milestone in the company’s largest single investment project to date.

“The extraordinary progress at our Zhanjiang Verbund site represents a major step forward in BASF’s local-for-local production approach,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE. “In the mid to long term, the Zhanjiang Verbund site will play a pivotal role in strengthening BASF’s core businesses and driving sustainable growth across key markets.”

With several downstream plants now in operation, the new capacities will further enhance BASF’s capabilities to meet fast-growing market demand in China and across the Asia Pacific region, serving customers from various industries.

“This remarkable achievement of our team is a strong testament to BASF’s strategy to strengthen our presence in Asia and support our customers on their path toward sustainability,” said Dr. Stephan Kothrade, member of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Technology Officer, BASF SE, who is responsible for BASF’s Asia Pacific region. “It reflects our long-term commitment to invest where our customers are and to grow together with the region.”

“By leveraging the latest technologies and applying the highest safety standards, our Zhanjiang Verbund site is strategically positioned to deliver high-quality, low-carbon-footprint chemical products to rapidly growing markets. The successful production of the first products from the core of the Verbund lays a solid foundation for the site’s startup as of the end of 2025,” said Haryono Lim, President, Mega Projects Asia, BASF.

As announced in July 2018, the BASF Zhanjiang Verbund site will be operated under the sole responsibility of BASF. BASF commenced construction of the first plants at the planned Verbund site in Zhanjiang in 2020. In July 2022, BASF made the final investment decision for the site’s main construction phase, which covers the core of the Verbund, including a steam cracker with a capacity of 1 million metric tons of ethylene per year and several downstream plants to produce petrochemicals, intermediates and other products.

As stated at BASF’s Capital Market Update in October 2025, the construction of the site is on schedule and below budget, with total capital expenditures expected to be approximately €8.7 billion.