BASF Opens World-Scale Production Site for Customer Specific Antioxidant Blends in Bahrain

-State-of-the-art production site to support polymer growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
-On-time start of production end of 2012



Ludwigshafen, Germany / Bahrain – – Today, BASF is opening a state-of-the-art production site for customer specific antioxidant blends (CSB) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is the largest facility of this kind worldwide and will become fully operational in December.



With this investment BASF Plastic Additives continues to strengthen its position as the leading partner in plastic additives for the plastic processing industry worldwide and shows its strong commitment to support the growth of the polymer industry in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC). CSB are additives-blends individually tailored to meet individual customer needs and are an integral part of the portfolio BASF offers to the plastics industry.



“BASF’s investment in this new site demonstrates our steadfast commitment to support growing industries in the Middle East, while at the same time setting standards with regard to quality, safety and employee training,” said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, during the opening ceremony.



Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: “We are delighted to welcome BASF, a leading international company, to Bahrain. Large manufacturing firms like BASF are playing an increasingly important role in our economy and will be a significant part of our plan to create sustainable long term economic growth and high quality jobs.”



The new facility, which is based on proprietary CSB technology, will provide local production and services to the fast growing polymer market in the Middle East with special focus on key customers in the countries of the GCC. It comes in addition to the existing manufacturing agreement for CSB with Astra Polymer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has been extended earlier this year.



John Frijns, Head of Plastic Additives Europe/ EAWA, stresses the necessity of local structures: “As BASF, we are committed to accompany the growth in the region with technical and flexible supply solutions through local production. ”



The new facility is part of a strong antioxidants production network comprising Asia, Europe and the Americas, which will be further optimized once the new capacity comes on stream.



About BASF Plastic Additives

The plastic additives business of BASF is a leading manufacturer, supplier and innovation partner of additives and pigments for the plastics industry such as ultraviolet (UV) light stabilizers, antioxidants and process stabilizers, organic and inorganic pigments, effect pigments, and other additives.



About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 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.



About BASF in United Arab Emirates

BASF has had a presence in the UAE for more than three decades. In that time it has achieved high level recognition from commercial enterprise and public entities for its expertise, advanced product ranges backed by ongoing R&D, its high-touch customer service philosophy, and ability to address global challenges – in the development and production of its solutions, as well as their application and use. BASF sells a range of products in the Middle East, with an emphasis on industrial chemicals, petrochemicals, gas purification, oilfield chemicals, sea water desalination, packaging, engineering plastics, plastics additives, paints, coatings & inks and construction sector products. BASF has more than 750 employees in the region.