DAHEJ, India – BASF India Limited inaugurated its large-scale chemical production complex at Dahej in Gujarat, India. With a project cost of approximately €150 million, the site represents BASF’s single-largest investment in India.

Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, commented, “As part of our investment plans of more than €10 billion in Asia-Pacific between 2013 and 2020, we want to strengthen our production platform in India. With our new Dahej site, we are enhancing our position as supplier with local production and can even better ‘create chemistry’ with our customers. With our advanced technologies and the commitment of our team in India, we will both contribute to and benefit from India’s huge market potential.”

Dr. Raman Ramachandran, Chairman, BASF Companies in India & Head South Asia, said, “With this production hub, including the first MDI splitter in South Asia, we are well positioned to increase our long-term competitiveness significantly in this key market. We will serve our customers in the Asia-Pacific region even better through stable product supply in terms of both quality and volume.”

The site includes an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing and production facilities for care chemicals and polymer dispersions. The care chemicals facility at the Dahej site hosts the first BASF sulfation plant in India, which will cater to customers in the consumer goods sector.

The polymer dispersions plant will expand BASF’s production footprint in the dispersions business, complementing the Mangalore facility. It will serve paper and board, architectural coatings, construction, adhesives, and fiber bonding customers, located in northern and western India.