BASF to Sell China Process Catalysts Site to Sud-Chemie     

On April 20th BASF announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its catalysts manufacturing facility in Nanjing, eastern China, to Sud-Chemie AG, a worldwide leading specialty chemical company for catalysts and adsorbents headquartered in Munich, Germany. The facility is independent from BASF's main Verbund site in Nanjing.
    The facility produces more than 30 different types of syngas catalysts, including products for manufacturing ammonia and methanol. A transition plan for the approximately 400 employees working at the process catalyst site is being developed together with Sud-Chemie. Despite the sale of the Nanjing catalyst site, BASF remains committed to being the global leader in the process catalysts industry and the preferred catalysts supplier for its customers.
     "This catalysts site did not represent a strong fit with BASF's other operations in China. We therefore determined that our best strategy was to sell the site as part of BASF's ongoing efficiency and restructuring programs," said Wilfried Seyfert, Group Vice President, Process Catalysts and Technologies.
   Dr. Guenter von Au, Chairman of the Managing Board of Sud-Chemie AG, commented:" Acquiring syngas catalyst production in Nanjing is an important strategic cornerstone for the expansion of Sud-Chemie in China and expanding our catalyst business in Asia. With the new site, we strengthen not only our market position in the Chinese growing market for catalysts for converting coal into high quality chemical products, but we also consolidate our position as worldwide technology and market leader in this area of business."