Global
Factbook
Global
Factbook
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
In Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF has started up a replacement acetylene plant with an annual capacity of 90,000 metric tons. This further strengthens the long-term competitiveness of the site.
BASF has developed a proprietary, multi-stage chemical process. Compared with the old plant, the new plant uses around 10% less fossil feedstock (such as natural gas) for this process per metric ton of end product. In addition, the new plant also generates less by-product per metric ton of end product.
Factors influencing sales
EBIT before special items
| Million € | 2019 | 2018 |
| Sales to third parties | 9,532 | 11,694 |
| Share of total BASF sales (%) | 16 | 19 |
of which Petrochemicals |
6,670 | 8,561 |
Intermediates |
2,862 | 3,133 |
| Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) before special items | 1,574 | 2,245 |
| Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) | 1,545 | 2,234 |
| EBITDA margin (%) | 16 | 19 |
| Income from operations (EBIT) before special items | 791 | 1,587 |
| EBIT before special items margin (%) | 8 | 14 |
| Income from operations (EBIT) | 622 | 1,573 |
| EBIT margin (%) | 7 | 13 |
| Return on capital employed (ROCE) (%) | 6.8 | 17.7 |