BASF Group’s business recorded solid volume growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by China and, since March, significantly shaped by the conflict in the Middle East. “In this demanding market environment, BASF demonstrated resilience and achieved EBITDA before special items of €2.4 billion compared with €2.5 billion in the prior-year quarter,” said Chief Financial Officer Dr. Dirk Elvermann at the presentation of the quarterly figures in advance of the BASF Annual Shareholders’ Meeting taking place today at the Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim, Germany. Overall, sales declined slightly due to strong adverse currency effects and slightly lower prices. In a conference call for analysts and investors, Elvermann said: “Disregarding the currency headwinds of more than €100 million, EBITDA before special items would have reached the level of the prior-year quarter.”

BASF is expanding its certified compostable ecovio^® portfolio with new grades that meet increasing recycling needs of flexible barrier packaging. The extended portfolio enables manufacturers of flexible packaging and brand owners to tailor barrier performance and end-of-life options like organics or paper recycling according to application functionalities, processing technologies and regulatory frameworks.