Catalysts
BASF’s Catalysts division is the global market leader in catalyst technologies. The division develops and produces mobile emissions catalysts as well as process catalysts and technologies. It also provides precious metals sourcing and management services. In addition, the division is the home of BASF’s battery materials business. BASF expands its leading role in catalyst technology through continuous process and product innovation.
Sales by region 2018 (location of customer)
Sales by direct customer industry 20181
1 Excluding precious metal trading
Portfolio
Mobile emissions catalysts
BASF’s emissions abatement catalysts enable cost-effective regulatory compliance, providing technologies that control emissions from gasoline and diesel-powered passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and off-road vehicles.
Process catalysts and technologies
BASF is the leading global manufacturer of catalysts for the chemical industry, with solutions across the chemical value chain. The business also provides oil refining technology catalysts, including fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, co-catalysts and additives. It also offers adsorbents, which are used for purification, moisture control and sulfur recovery.
Battery materials
BASF is a leading global supplier of advanced cathode active materials (CAM) for the lithium-ion batteries market, providing highenergy density CAM to the world’s largest cell producers and into leading platforms of OEMs. BASF has a global presence with R&D and production capacity operating or announced in all regions, often leveraging partnerships to improve competitiveness. BASF is a frontrunner in developing innovative solutions and conducting next-generation battery materials research.
Emissions catalysts market – regulation remains primary demand driver
Precious and base metal services
The global business unit precious and base metal services supports BASF’s mobile emissions catalysts and battery materials businesses and its customers with services related to precious and base metals sourcing and management. It purchases, sells, distributes, stores and offers transportation services for precious metals. It also provides a variety of pricing and delivery arrangements to meet logistical, financial and price-risk management requirements. In addition, the business produces precious metal salts and solutions and is a global leader in precious metals recycling and refining.
BASF’s market position
- Mobile emissions catalysts: No. 2 globally
- Chemical catalysts: No. 1 globally
- FCC refinery catalysts: No. 2 globally
Main competitors
- Mobile emissions catalysts: Johnson Matthey, Umicore
- Chemical catalysts: Clariant, Johnson Matthey
- FCC refinery catalysts: W.R. Grace, Albemarle
- Battery materials: Umicore, LG, Nichia
Focus of research and development
For mobile emissions catalysts, the focus is on improved products to meet future vehicle emission standards. In the process catalysts business, priority is given to developing new and improved products. For battery materials, the focus is on offering comprehensive products meeting customer’s requirements for e-mobility applications, including improving energy density to extend driving range as well as stability, safety and cost.
Acquisitions/JVs/investments
(from 2016 onward)
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Mobile emissions catalysts | New manufacturing plant in Chennai, India | 2017 |
| New manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand | 2018 | |
| New specialty zeolites manufacturing plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany | 2019 | |
| New manufacturing plant in Shanghai, China | 2019 | |
| Capacity expansion in Środa Śląska, Poland | 2020 | |
| Process catalysts | New chemical catalysts manufacturing plant in Caojing, China | 2017 |
| Battery materials | License under the IP of CAMX Power for CAM-7™ cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries granted to BASF | 2016 |
| Expansion of cathode materials plant in Onoda, Japan | 2017 | |
| BASF TODA Americas LLC formed | 2018 | |
| New manufacturing plant in Harjavalta, Finland | 2018 |
Divestitures/shutdowns
(from 2016 onward)
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Process catalysts | Divestiture of the polyolefin catalysts business | 2016 |
| Divestiture of the bleaching clay and mineral adsorbents business | 2017 | |
| Battery materials | Divestiture of the electrolytes manufacturing site in Suzhou, China | 2017 |
Innovation
Novel diesel oxidation catalyst
Diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) reduce emissions of heavy-duty diesel engines by removing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and enabling soot removal from the exhaust. BASF offers a novel DOC that reduces the precious metal active ingredients by at least 25%. Another advantage is it significantly broadens the temperature region to implement removal of soot and prevent build-up of back pressure on the engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption. The novel DOC design is used in all major markets.