BASF (Ludwigshafen/ Germany; www.basf.com) is moving to bolster its position in the Brazilian polymers market. Investment plans include expansion of the polyurethane (PU) systems and specialities business and a new plant for super absorbers. No capacities or financial details have been disclosed. The German group said it is responding to demand driven mainly by the furniture, footwear, appliances and transportation sectors.

At the integrated site in Guaratinguetá, BASF is establishing or enlarging production facilities for PU systems, polyols, thermoplastic urethanes (TPUs) and the “Cellasto” microcellular PU components – see Plasteurope.com of 19.10.2011. Concurrently, a new development and technical service centre will be opened at the group’s Demarchi site at São Bernardo do Campo.

In other global investments, BASF said it also plans to strengthen its position in the super absorbent polymers (SAP) business in Brazil and China. A new 60,000 t/y plant at Camacari / Brazil will go on stream in late 2014, and in the same time frame a 60,000 t/y plant will start up in China, at BASF-YPC (Nanjing), the 50:50 joint venture with Sinopec (Beijing / China; www.sinopec.com). A feasibility study for an integrated SAP plant in Kuantan / Malaysia is in progress.