BASF Catalysts expands plant for emissions-control technologies to meet growing market demand

ISELIN, NJ, April 19, 2007 — BASF Catalysts, a world leader in environmental catalyst technology, recently completed an expansion of its production plant in Huntsville, Alabama to meet the growing market demand for catalyst technologies that reduce pollution from diesel vehicles. New clean air standards in both the US and Europe are driving the need for sophisticated emissions systems on diesel passenger cars, trucks and buses.

The Huntsville site underwent significant expansion, enabling BASF Catalysts to meet sharply increased customer requirements for several different technology platforms in order to comply with the new regulations. BASF Catalysts was recently chosen by several major diesel engine makers to supply them with catalyst technologies that enable compliance with new US emissions rules. These new orders will drive increased production requirements over the next few years.

"Increasingly stringent emissions regulations are truly going global, and driving the market demand for cost-effective, efficient technologies," said Paul Lamb, Group Vice President for Environmental Technologies at BASF Catalysts. "We are excited about the Huntsville site's growth and the opportunity to expand its capacity in order to be optimally equipped to support our global customers' needs in various countries."

As they address sources of growing pollution, government regulators around the world continue to focus on motor vehicle exhaust. In the US, emissions regulations require diesel vehicle and engine manufacturers to reduce particulate matter (PM) by 80-90% this year. Between now and 2010, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) must be reduced by 95%. In Europe, Euro IV and Euro V regulations are setting similarly stringent standards and timetables.

BASF acquired the Huntsville facility last year as part of its purchase of Engelhard Corporation. The Huntsville facility was established in 1973 to manufacture catalysts for automotive use and has grown to produce an extensive range of emissions-control catalysts and technologies that are used to cut pollution from both mobile and stationary sources, including gasoline- and diesel-powered cars, heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses, motorcycles, power plants, factories, and lawn and garden equipment, among others. The facility serves most major domestic car and diesel engine makers, as well as export markets.

The Huntsville site's recent awards include Alabama's 2006 Automotive Award for Safety, the City of Huntsville Protection Award for Safe Heat Reduction, which saved enough energy to heat 1,000 homes during the winter, and the City of Huntsville Beautification Award.

BASF Catalysts, a division of BASF Corporation, is the world's leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics, adsorbents and other products.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF's high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has over 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.