German chemicals giant BASF (Ludwigshafen; www.basf.com) says it has begun compounding polyamides and PBT at its new integrated “Verbund” site in Zhanjiang, China. Capacity is estimated at 60,000 t/y divided about equally between the two materials.

After its completion, this will be BASF’s seventh such site worldwide and the third largest after facilities at the headquarters in Ludwigshafen and production in Antwerp, Belgium.

The naphtha cracker as the central unit is scheduled to start up in 2026, with ethylene capacity quoted at 1 mn t/y (see Plasteurope.com of 25.07.2022).

BASF intends to ensure that the power supply for the EUR 10 bn project will come entirely from renewable sources.