BASF to increase prices for paper coating binders

CHARLOTTE, N.C., November 4, 2004 -- BASF will raise prices in the United States and Canada for all Styronal® carboxylated styrene-butadiene, and its tailor-made Basonal® multi-monomer styrene, butadiene and acrylonitrile-based emulsion polymer paper coating binders by $0.05 per dry pound, effective November 15, 2004, or as contracts allow.

This increase is necessary due to the continuing increases in raw material and energy costs.

Styronal® and Basonal® are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. We employ about 11,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $9 billion in 2003. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company. Our goal is to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company. We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. BASF's portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities. We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In 2003, BASF had sales of approximately $42 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Bill Pagano
BASF
Tel: (973) 245-6071
E-mail: paganow@basf.com