Reuters reports that Sinopec Corp is planning to increase its investment in fine chemicals at its Maoming-Zhanjiang refining base in southern China.

BASF announced plans to expand production capabilities at its Chattanooga plant to strengthen the company´s position as a supplier of emulsion polymers for the paper, paperboard and carpet industries in North America.

On April 6, 2011, BASF opened its new Polyurethane (PU) Solutions System House at the just recently completed BASF site in Dubai Industrial City (DIC) with an official ceremony.

A new research by the Duke and Kent State universities provides surprising results: Although hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") consumes less water than conventional gas wells, the waste water can still overstress local disposal and cleaning systems...

Both the Chinese chemical companies Sinochem and Chemchina are planning a fusion. With an annual turnover of around 100 billion Dollars, the recently emerged chemical giant would supersede the present industry leader BASF.

Batteries are the key technology for the electromobility of the future. Over the next five years, BASF will be investing a three-digit million euro sum in researching, developing and the production of battery materials. Part of the investment is being channeled into the construction of a production plant for advanced cathode materials.

The scarcity of crude oil and a growing consciousness for the problems associated with plastic waste from packaging material make lead to a growing interest in degradable bioplastics. A new market study by Frost & Sullivan sees great chances for bioplastics as cost effective mass products.

BASF and Petronas expand their integrated complex in Kuantan/Malaysia and build a new world-scale production plant for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid (2-EHAcid).

Yara International and BASF Group have agreed to build a world scale ammonia plant at BASF’s site in Freeport, Texas. The plant will use hydrogen as raw material, reducing capital expenditures (capex), maintenance and carbon dioxide emissions significantly.

On May 27, 2011 BASF and Ineos signed a joint venture contract, which regulates the formation of the planned joint venture company Styrolution. The EU Commission has approved the formation subject to the requirement that the parties sell an ABS production site in Tarragona, Spain.