BASF's New Neopentyl Glycol (NPG) Plant Begins Operations at Zhanjiang Verbund Site

The newly commissioned plant has an annual capacity of 80,000 tons, increasing BASF's global neopentyl glycol annual capacity to 335,000 tons.

■ Faster response to the growing demand for low-emission powder coatings in the Asia-Pacific region.

■ Launch of NEOL® Neopentyl Glycol to Reduce Product Carbon Footprint for the First Time

The BASF Intermediates division has officially launched a new neopentyl glycol (NPG) production unit at the Zhanjiang integrated base. This unit has an annual production capacity of 80,000 tons, and with its commissioning, BASF's global NPG total annual production capacity has increased from 255,000 tons to 335,000 tons, consolidating its position as a leading global NPG manufacturer. NPG is an intermediate primarily used for producing powder coating resins. The first delivery was completed in October.

The BASF intermediate team celebrated the official start-up of the new neopentyl glycol (NPG) plant at the Zhanjiang integrated site.

At the same time, BASF launched a new butylene glycol with a reduced product carbon footprint (rPCF), named NEOL® Butylene Glycol Solution 90% rPCF AP, for the production of NPG at its Zhanjiang site. Preliminary assessments indicate that the carbon footprint of the NPG products produced in Zhanjiang is lower than that of similar products produced at BASF's other existing NPG facilities in Asia. This is attributed to the efficient production technology, integrated operational advantages, use of low-carbon raw materials, and 100% renewable electricity at the Zhanjiang site.

The first batch of products was shipped via tank truck in October, marking the first delivery from this facility to customers.

Michael Becker, Senior Vice President of BASF and Head of the Intermediates Business Unit Asia Pacific, stated: "The commissioning of the new plant enhances our local production setup, allowing us to respond more quickly to the growing demand from customers in the Asia-Pacific region for environmentally friendly powder coating resins. This is an important step in our vision to become the 'preferred partner for sustainable intermediates'."

Powder coatings are widely used in the construction materials, general industrial, home appliances, furniture, automotive, and 3C products industries. Due to the low content of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in powder coatings, they help users meet VOC emission standards. Compared to liquid coatings, VOC emissions can be reduced by up to 50%. Other applications of NPG include the production of lubricants, plasticizers, and pharmaceutical intermediates such as ibuprofen.

The "AP" in the product name refers to the Asia-Pacific region, indicating that the product is launched for the Asia-Pacific market.

The carbon footprint value of NPG products produced at BASF's Zhanjiang integrated site is based on preliminary calculations, and the specific results may vary depending on actual conditions. This calculation follows the ISO 14067:2018 Product Carbon Footprint standard, but it has not yet been reviewed by third-party experts or assessment groups. The "Reduced Product Carbon Footprint" (rPCF) products launched by BASF's Intermediates Division achieve at least a 10% reduction in product carbon footprint benefits compared to BASF's standard products in the corresponding sales regions.

"3C products" refer to computers, communication, and consumer electronics.