BASF has reached mechanical completion for the first batch of plants at its Zhanjiang Verbund site in China, including glacial acrylic acid (GAA) and butyl acrylate (BA) facilities. The company said the world-scale acrylics complex remains on track for commissioning and start-up in 2025.

“These new world-scale production facilities will allow us to meet the fast-growing demand for acrylics in China and across Asia with a reliable supply of high-quality, competitive products and shorter lead times,” said Bir Darbar Mehta, senior vice president of petrochemicals Asia Pacific at BASF.

The Zhanjiang acrylics complex will include approximately 400,000 metric tons of annual BA production capacity. Acrylic acid is used to produce superabsorbent polymers, and BA is a key component in adhesives, architectural coatings and industrial coatings.

The Zhanjiang site, which broke ground in 2023, will become BASF’s third-largest Verbund site globally, with total investment reaching approximately €10 billion.

Learn more about resins and polymers used in coatings.