BASF Commences Production of First Products from Core of Zhanjiang Verbund Site

BASF has successfully begun producing the first products from the core of its Verbund complex at the Zhanjiang site in South China, marking a major milestone in the company’s largest single investment project to date.

“The extraordinary progress at our Zhanjiang Verbund site represents a major step forward in BASF’s local-for-local production approach,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE. “In the mid- to long term, the Zhanjiang Verbund site will play a pivotal role in strengthening BASF’s core businesses and driving sustainable growth across key markets.”

With multiple downstream plants now operational, the new capacities will strengthen BASF’s ability to meet the rapidly growing market demand in China and the wider Asia-Pacific region, supporting customers across diverse industries.

“This remarkable achievement of our team is a strong testament to BASF’s strategy to strengthen our presence in Asia and support our customers on their path toward sustainability,” said Dr. Stephan Kothrade, member of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Technology Officer, BASF SE, who is responsible for BASF’s Asia Pacific region. “It reflects our long-term commitment to invest where our customers are and to grow together with the region.”

“By leveraging the latest technologies and applying the highest safety standards, our Zhanjiang Verbund site is strategically positioned to deliver high-quality, low-carbon-footprint chemical products to rapidly growing markets. The successful production of the first products from the core of the Verbund lays a solid foundation for the site’s startup at the end of 2025,” said Haryono Lim, President, Mega Projects Asia, BASF.

BASF fully owns and operates the Zhanjiang Verbund site, which it announced in July 2018. Construction of the first plants began in 2020, followed by the final investment decision in July 2022 for the main construction phase. This phase includes the main part of the Verbund complex, which has a steam cracker that can produce 1 million metric tonnes of ethylene each year, along with several plants that make petrochemicals, intermediates, and other related products.

As highlighted during BASF’s Capital Market Update in October 2025, construction of the site remains on schedule and under budget, with total capital expenditures are estimated at €8.7 billion.

Source: BASF