BASF ups propionic acid capacity in China and Germany

12 August 2007

German chemical giant BASF is increasing its annual production capacity for the chemical intermediate propionic acid at its sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Nanjing, Chian, by 30,000 metric tons and 9,000 metric tons, respectively. Production in Nanjing is ensured by BASF YPC Co, a joint venture with the China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec). Once the expansion of the two production facilities is completed - in Nanjing and by mid-2009 in Ludwigshafen - BASF will have the capacity to make 149,000 metric tons of propionic acid each year.

"Propionic acid is a strategic product for us and BASF is a leading supplier. With this investment, we intend to keep responding to our customers' growing demand in a sustainable manner," said Walter Gramlich, president of BASF's Intermediates Division.

The major application of propionic acid is feedgrain preservation. The organic acid is also widely used in the production of vitamin E as well as pharmaceutical active ingredients, crop protection agents, solvents, food preservatives and plastics, the firm noted.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK



Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight