Factbook
Care Chemicals
Sales by direct customer industry 2025

Portfolio
Home care and industrial & institutional cleaning
We develop, produce and market a wide range of ingredients for the global detergents and cleaners industry. As the innovation leader in this market, we offer choices to our customers by providing a broad portfolio to successfully cater to today’s and tomorrow’s market needs, always considering the changing regulatory requirements. Our strong and integrated global production footprint, combined with a state-of-the-art R&D base and in-depth market and application expertise, drives our unique value proposition. This makes us the partner of choice for formulators of efficient, convenient, sustainable and safe-to-use cleaning products. Our portfolio, which is constantly being further developed, includes surfactants, enzymes, performance boosters, chelating agents, biocides, stabilizers and methanesulfonic acid.
Personal care
We envision a future in which performance, sustainability and scientific innovation are at the core of every product. Driven by the expertise and passion of our teams, we embrace agility and proactively address the rapidly evolving desires and needs of consumers in the industry. Our commitment goes beyond individual products. We collaborate with partners across the ecosystem, leveraging our extensive portfolio and scientific expertise to deliver innovative solutions to our customers, considering the entire value chain. Our broad personal care portfolio includes actives, bioactives, emollients, emulsifiers, polymers, surfactants and UV filters.
Industrial formulators
As a leading supplier of processing aids for industrial chemical formulations, we provide high‑performance additives and surfaceactive ingredients that enhance the efficiency, sustainability and reliability of industrial formulations. We deliver formulation expertise and customer‑specific solutions across agrochemicals, coatings and adhesives raw materials, construction, textiles, metal surface treatment and chemical processing.
Our product portfolio includes dispersants, emulsifiers, surface modifiers, solvents, chelating agents, biocides, micronutrients and methanesulfonic acid that support formulators in improving performance while reducing resource use and operational costs.
Market position and main competitors
The Care Chemicals division holds one of the top three market positions in all strategic business areas in which it is active.
The main competitors (alphabetical order) include Ashland, Clariant, Croda, Dow, Evonik, Sasol, Stepan and Syensqo.
Focus of research and development
Acquisitions/JVs/investments
From 2023 onward
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Alkoxylates | Capacity expansion in Antwerp, Belgium | 2023 |
| Capacity expansion in Ludwigshafen, Germany | 2024 | |
| New production plant in Zhanjiang, China | 2026 | |
| Alkylpolyglucosides (APG) | Expansion of global capacities in Bangpakong, Thailand, and Cincinnati, Ohio | 2025-2026 |
| Enzymes | Investment in production setup for bacterial enzymes and biotechnology products, Kundl/Schaftenau, Austria | 2024 |
| UV filters | New plant in Jinshan, China | 2023 |
Divestitures/shutdowns
From 2023 onward
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Anionic surfactants | Sale of softex business to GOVI CAST Sdn. Bhd. | 2026 |
| Optical brighteners | Sale of optical brighteners business and production assets to Catexel | 2026 |
Major nameplate capacities of BASF1
Thousand metric tons per year
| Product group | Location | Capacity |
| Anionic surfactants | Europe, North America, South America, Asia Pacific | 550 |
| Chelating agents | Europe, North America, South America | 170 |
| Methanesulfonic acid | Europe | 50 |
| Nonionic surfactants | Europe, North America, Asia Pacific | 1,015 |
1 All capacities are included 100%, including plants belonging to joint operations and joint ventures.
Innovation

From seed to scalp: Nature-powered hair renewal with Aloversil™
Aloversil™ is a new cosmetic ingredient with potent natural peptides designed to support the appearance of denser hair in men experiencing visible signs of shedding. It helps maintain a healthy scalp environment, which is key for visibly stronger, fuller and more resilient hair. In a clinical study, daily application of a leave-in hair serum containing Aloversil™ led to noticeable improvements in the look of hair coverage and density over a four-month period. In vitro studies show that the new ingredient supports the body’s own cellular communication and natural micro-vascularization, both of which are associated with nourishing healthy hair follicles and improving the hair’s appearance. Aloversil™ is made from the seedcake of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), a by-product of juice and oil production, and is 100% of natural origin according to ISO 16128.