BASF to increase BDO production in US

Geismar, Lousiana - BASF has announced that it would increase its production capacities for the chemical intermediate 1,4-butanediol (BDO) by 10 percent at its Geismar site as of 2016.

In a news release on 21 Jan, the company said the addition would increase its global BDO capacity to 670 kilotonnes per annum.

Additionally, it said, BASF was looking into further measures to strengthen and to expand the BDO value-chain at the Geismar site.

BASF aims to “boost efficiency and improve infrastructure” at all of its sites to increase its BDO capacity according to “the steadily growing customer demand”.

Besides Geismar, BASF produces BDO at its sites in Ludwigshafen,Germany; Kuantan, Malaysia; Caojing, China; and Chiba, Japan.

Furthermore, a new 100 ktpa BDO facility, operated as a joint venture between BASF and Chinese company Xinjiang Markor is expected to start operations this year.