BASF (China) Company Ltd., headquartered in Shanghai, is the Chinese subsidiary of BASF SE, one of the world’s largest chemical companies. Operating under the global BASF vision of “We create chemistry for a sustainable future,” the company plays a pivotal role in enabling innovation and sustainable growth across China’s rapidly evolving industrial, agricultural, consumer goods, and energy sectors. BASF has been present in China since 1885 and continues to be a key contributor to the country’s high-tech chemical manufacturing landscape.
Core Business and Product Portfolio
BASF (China) operates across six integrated segments, offering a comprehensive portfolio of advanced materials, chemicals, and solutions.
1. Chemicals:
- Petrochemicals: Ethylene, propylene, butadiene
- Intermediates: Amines, polyalcohols, acids, glycols, and specialties used in pharmaceuticals, coatings, and plastics
2. Materials:
- Performance Materials: Polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), engineering plastics
- Monomers: Isocyanates and polyamides, essential for construction, automotive, and electronics
3. Industrial Solutions:
- Dispersions & Resins: Raw materials for coatings, adhesives, construction chemicals
- Performance Chemicals: Additives for plastics, fuel & lubricants, and oilfield chemicals
4. Surface Technologies:
- Catalysts: Automotive and industrial emission-control catalysts, battery materials
- Coatings: Automotive OEM coatings, refinish coatings, industrial coatings
5. Nutrition & Care:
- Care Chemicals: Surfactants and actives for personal care, home care, I&I cleaning
- Nutrition & Health: Vitamins, enzymes, carotenoids, omega-3s, pharmaceutical excipients
6. Agricultural Solutions:
- Crop Protection: Herbicides, fungicides, insecticides
- Seeds & Traits
- Digital Farming Technologies (e.g., xarvio® platform)
These offerings enable BASF to support value chains in agriculture, food and beverage, automotive, pharmaceuticals, construction, and electronics.
Specialisation and Core USP
BASF’s competitive advantages in China are built on:
- Integrated Verbund Sites: BASF operates a fully integrated production site in Nanjing (with SINOPEC) and another in Zhanjiang under development, enabling energy and resource efficiency.
- Local Innovation: The Shanghai Innovation Campus is BASF’s largest R&D site in Asia-Pacific, with over 1,000 scientists focusing on local solutions.
- Sustainability Leadership: BASF is a pioneer in carbon footprint tracking and circular economy models in China, including recycled and bio-based materials.
- Broad Industry Presence: BASF supplies to virtually all industrial and consumer sectors, ensuring unmatched market reach and resilience.
The company’s “Verbund” production concept maximizes energy efficiency and minimizes emissions, delivering both economic and environmental value.
Certifications and Compliance
BASF (China) operates under globally recognized certifications and industry standards:
- ISO 9001 Quality Management
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management
- ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety
- RC14001 Responsible Care Management System
- REACH and China MEE Compliance
- GMP for Pharma & Nutrition Segments
Products meet regional regulatory requirements across China GB Standards, EU Directives, and U.S. FDA where applicable.
Target Market
BASF’s diversified client base in China includes:
- Multinational and domestic manufacturers in automotive, electronics, and consumer goods
- Pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement companies
- Agribusinesses and large-scale farmers
- Retail and OEM partners for coatings and home care
The company’s broad capabilities allow it to serve both B2B and institutional customers with customized formulations and systems solutions.
Capabilities
- Production: Operates more than 25 production sites in China, including large-scale facilities in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing, and Zhanjiang
- R&D: Innovation Campus Asia Pacific in Shanghai with cutting-edge labs for materials science, biosciences, formulation development, and analytics
- Digitalization: Advanced digital platforms for product stewardship, supply chain optimization, and customer engagement
- Sustainability Tools: Lifecycle assessment (LCA), carbon footprint calculators, and circular feedstock tracking
BASF has invested over €3 billion in China to support localized production, innovation, and customer partnerships.
Financial Overview
Globally, BASF Group reported €68.9 billion in sales revenue in 2022, with Asia Pacific accounting for €12.1 billion. China remains the largest market in Asia and a strategic growth engine. The company has over 9,000 employees in Greater China and continues to expand its production footprint, including the €10 billion investment in the Zhanjiang Verbund site, one of the largest foreign investments in China’s chemical industry.
BASF (China) has sustained a strong CAGR in the region, benefiting from demand in automotive coatings, battery materials, personal care, and sustainable agriculture.
Shipment and Export Records
BASF (China) is primarily focused on domestic production and supply, but it also plays a role in intra-Asia and global distribution through its Verbund logistics network:
- Exports include industrial intermediates, coatings, and catalysts
- Import activities support high-value specialty ingredients and research compounds
- Logistic hubs in Shanghai and Guangzhou manage bulk and containerized cargo globally
The company operates through a digitized logistics network, integrating smart warehousing, tracking, and customer fulfillment systems.
Achievements
- Operates the largest foreign R&D investment in China's chemical industry (Shanghai Innovation Campus)
- First multinational to receive ISCC+ certification in China for circular feedstock and bio-based material verification
- Named among “Top Employers China” for consecutive years
- Co-developed Verbund site in Zhanjiang projected to be BASF's third-largest site worldwide
- Recipient of numerous sustainability and innovation awards in China for product stewardship and environmental initiatives
BASF (China) Company Ltd. represents a critical pillar in BASF’s global strategy, enabling the transformation of China’s industrial landscape through science-based solutions, localized innovation, and sustainable chemistry leadership.
