BASF plans new blending facility for antioxidants in Bahrain

* BASF is strengthening its presence in the Middle East to support the strongly growing regional polymer industry
* The company is finalizing plans for a new production facility for customer specific antioxidant blends in Bahrain
* BASF is committed to continue the existing local tolling agreement for antioxidant blends with Astra Polymer



Ludwigshafen , Germany – BASF has announced plans to build a production facility for customer specific antioxidant blends (CSB) in Bahrain. The new CSB plant will come in addition to the existing tolling agreement for CSB with Astra Polymer in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia, which is mainly supplying local customers.



“With the new production facility in Bahrain, we will be able to support the fast growth of our customers in the Middle East region while providing the flexibility in supply and service speed that our customers require”, explains Hans W. Reiners, President Performance Chemicals Division of BASF.



John Frijns, Senior Vice President Plastic Additives Europe/EAWA, adds: “Following the evaluation of several investment options, we have decided that a new antioxidant blending facility in Bahrain will provide the highest value for both, our customers and BASF”.



As the world’s leading Plastic Additives supplier, BASF is committed to support polymer growth in the Middle East Region with local production as well as the services that customers demand.



About Plastic Additives

BASF is a leading manufacturer, supplier and innovation partner of additives and pigments for the plastics industry such as light stabilizers, antioxidants and process stabilizers, flame retardants, other additives, and organic and inorganic pigments.



About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.