United Kingdom
Who we are
Business Segments
As of January 1, 2019, we have twelve divisions grouped into six segments as follows: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, Agricultural Solutions.
With the new segment structure, we want to steer our businesses more differentiated according to their market-specific competitive environment, increase transparency regarding the results of our segments and divisions and highlight the importance of the Verbund and value chains to our business success. Our divisions bear operational responsibility and are organized according to sectors or products.
This way, BASF aims to clearly position its businesses against their relevant competitors and establish a high-performance organization to enable BASF to be successful in an increasingly competitive market environment.
Aligning our business with our customers’ needs is our primary focus. Our ability to combine in-depth expertise with a wide range of resources to meet specific demands enables us to position BASF as a solution-oriented system provider.
Chemicals
The Chemicals segment consists of the Petrochemicals and Intermediates divisions. It supplies the other segments with basic chemicals and intermediates, contributing to the organic growth of our key value chains. Alongside internal transfers, our customers mainly come from the chemical and plastics industries. We aim to expand our competitiveness through technological leadership and operational excellence.
Divisions
Petrochemicals: Broad portfolio of high-quality basic chemicals and specialties tailored to the needs of internal and external customers from industries such as chemicals and plastics
Intermediates: Comprehensive portfolio of intermediates and specialties, which are used as precursors for products such as coatings, plastics, textile fibers, pharmaceuticals and crop protection products
| Division | Products | Customer industries and applications |
| Petrochemicals | Ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, alcohols, solvents, plasticizers, alkylene oxides, glycols, acrylic monomers, styrene and polystyrene, styrenic foams, superabsorbents | Use in the BASF Verbund Chemical and plastics industry, construction, detergent, hygiene, automotive, packaging and textile industries; production of paints, coatings, cosmetics, oilfield and paper chemicals |
| Intermediates | Basic products: butanediol and derivatives, alkylamines and alkanolamines, neopentyl glycol, formic and propionic acid
Specialties: specialty amines such as tertiary butylamine and polyetheramine, gas treatment chemicals, vinyl monomers, acid chlorides, chloroformates, chiral intermediates |
Use in the BASF Verbund
Chemical, plastics, coatings, construction, automotive, textile, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries Production of detergents and cleaners as well as crop protection products and textile fibers |
Materials
The Materials segment is composed of the Performance Materials division and the Monomers division. The Materials segment’s portfolio comprises advanced materials and their precursors for new applications and systems. These include isocyanates and polyamides as well as inorganic basic products and specialties for the plastics and plastics processing industries. We want to focus primarily on organic growth through differentiation via specific technological expertise, industry know-how and customer proximity to maximize value in the isocyanate and polyamide value chains.
Divisions
Performance Materials: Polyurethanes, thermoplastics and foam specialties for sectors such as the transportation, construction and consumer goods industries, as well as for industrial applications
Monomers: Isocyanates and polyamides as well as inorganic basic products and specialties for sectors such as the plastics, automotive and construction industries
| Division | Products | Customer industries and applications |
| Performance Materials | Engineering plastics, biodegradable plastics, foam specialties, polyurethanes | Automotive manufacture, electrical engineering, packaging, games, sports and leisure, household, mechanical engineering, construction, agriculture, medical technology, sanitation and water industry, solar thermal energy and photovoltaics |
| Monomers | Isocyanates (MDI, TDI), ammonia, caprolactam, adipic acid, chlorine, urea, glues and impregnating resins, caustic soda, polyamides 6 and 6.6, standard alcoholates, sulfuric and nitric acid |
Use in the BASF Verbund
Industries such as plastics, woodworking, furniture, packaging, textile, construction and automotive |
Industrial Solutions
The Industrial Solutions segment consists of the Dispersions & Pigments and the Performance Chemicals divisions. The segment develops and markets ingredients and additives for industrial applications, such as fuel and lubricant solutions, polymer dispersions, pigments, resins, electronic materials, antioxidants, light stabilizers, oilfield chemicals, and mineral processing and hydrometallurgical chemicals. We aim to drive organic growth in key industries such as automotive, plastics, electronics, and energy and resources, and expand our position in value-enhancing additives and solutions by leveraging our comprehensive industry expertise and application know-how.
Divisions
Dispersions & Pigments: Raw materials used to formulate products in the coatings, construction, paper, printing and packaging, adhesives and electronics industries
Performance Chemicals: Customized products for various customer industries such as chemicals, plastics, consumer goods, energy and resources, as well as automotive and transportation
| Division | Products | Customer industries and applications |
| Dispersions & Pigments | Polymer dispersions, resins, additives, pigments, electronic materials | Coatings, construction, paper, printing and packaging, adhesives and electronics industries |
| Performance Chemicals | Antioxidants, light stabilizers and flame retardants for plastic applications
Fuel and refinery additives, polyisobutene, brake fluids and engine coolants, lubricant additives and basestocks, components for metalworking fluids and compounded lubricants
Process chemicals for the extraction of oil, gas, metals and minerals; chemicals for enhanced oil recovery
Kaolin minerals |
Chemicals, plastics, consumer goods, automotive and transportation industries, as well as energy and resources |
Surface Technologies
The Surface Technologies segment comprises the Catalysts and Coatings divisions. The segment bundles the chemical surface solution businesses. Its portfolio includes coatings, surface treatments, catalysts and battery materials for the auto motive and chemical industries. The aim is to drive organic growth by leveraging our portfolio of technologies and establishing BASF as a leading and innovative solution provider in fields such as battery materials.
Divisions
Catalysts: Automotive and process catalysts, battery materials, precious metal trading, recycling
Coatings: Coatings solutions, surface treatments, decorative paints
| Division | Products | Customer industries and applications |
| Catalysts | Automotive catalysts, process catalysts and technologies
Battery materials
Precious and base metal services |
Automotive and chemical industries, refineries, battery manufacturers, solutions for the protection of air quality as well as the production of fuels, chemicals, plastics and battery materials |
| Coatings | Coatings solutions for automotive applications, technology and system solutions for surface treatments, decorative paints |
Automotive industry, body shops, steel industry, aviation, aluminum applications in the architecture and construction industries, household appliances, painting businesses and private consumers |
Nutrition & Care
In the Nutrition & Care segment – consisting of the Care Chemicals and Nutrition & Health divisions – we serve the growing and increasingly sophisticated demands for fast- moving consumer goods. Our customers include food and feed producers as well as the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, detergent and cleaner industries. We strive to expand our position as a leading provider of ingredients and solutions for consumer applications in the areas of nutrition, home and personal care. Our goal is to drive organic growth by focusing on emerging markets, new business models and sustainability trends in consumer markets, supported by targeted acquisitions.
Divisions
Care Chemicals: Ingredients for the cosmetics, detergent and cleaner industries, agrochemical and technical applications
Nutrition & Health: Products for the food and feed industries, the flavor and fragrance industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the ethanol industry
| Division | Products | Customer industries and applications |
| Care Chemicals | Ingredients for skin and hair cleansing and care products, such as emollients, cosmetic active ingredients, polymers and UV filters
Ingredients for detergents and cleaners in household, institution or industry, such as surfactants, enzymes, chelating agents, water-soluble polymers, biocides and products for optical effects
Chemical ingredients and processing additives, for example for crop protection, excipients for chemical processes such as emulsion polymerization, metal surface treatments or textile processing, as well as products for concrete additives, biofuels and other industrial applications |
Cosmetics industry, detergent and cleaner industry, agrochemical industry, technical applications for various industries |
| Nutrition & Health | Additives for the food and feed industries, such as vitamins, carotenoids, sterols, enzymes, emulsifiers, omega-3 fatty acids, human milk oligosaccharides
Industrial enzymes for ethanol production
Natural and synthetic flavors and fragrances, such as citral, geraniol, citronellol, L-menthol and linalool, vanillin, valencene and nootkatone
Excipients for the pharmaceutical industry and selected, high-volume active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids |
Food and feed industries, flavor and fragrance industry, pharmaceutical industry and ethanol industry |
Agricultural Solutions
In the Agricultural Solutions segment, we aim to further strengthen our market position as an integrated provider of crop protection products, seeds and digital solutions. The portfolio comprises fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and biological crop protection products, as well as seeds and seed treatment products. Our strategy is based on innovation-driven organic growth, targeted portfolio expansion and leveraging synergies from acquisitions. Customer needs, societal expectations and regulatory requirements are our innovation drivers for the segment.
Indications and sectors
Fungicides: Protecting crops against harmful fungal diseases
Herbicides: Reducing competition from weeds for nutrients, water and sunlight
Insecticides: Combating insect pests in agriculture and beyond
Seed Treatment: Biological and chemical crop protection, functional coatings and colorants
Seeds & Traits: Optimization and development of seeds and new traits
| Indications and sectors | Applications | Selected products |
| Fungicides | Protecting crops against harmful fungal diseases; improving plant health and securing yield and harvest quality
|
Boscalid, dimethomorph, F500®, Initium®, metiram, metrafenone, Revysol®, Serifel®, Xemium® |
| Herbicides | Reducing competition from weeds for nutrients, water and sunlight to secure yield and harvest quality | Basta®, Clearfield®, dimethenamid-p, Engenia®, Finale®, imazamox, Kixor®, Liberty®, pendimethalin, topramezone |
| Insecticides | Combating insect pests in agriculture and beyond, such as in the fields of public health, professional pest control and landscape maintenance |
Alpha-cypermethrin, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, Inscalis®, Interceptor®, Nealta®, teflubenzuron, Termidor® |
| Seed Treatment | Biological and chemical crop protection, functional coatings and colorants | lo Rite®, ILeVO®, Integral®, Nodulator® PRO, PONCHO®, Serifel®, Systiva®, Vault® HP, Velondis®, VOTiVO® |
| Seeds & Traits | Seeds and traits for key field crops such as canola (oilseed rape), cotton, soybean and wheat, as well as vegetable seeds | Credenz®, FiberMax®, InVigor®, LibertyLink®, Nunhems®, Stoneville® |