BASF announces further steps to improve pigment’s competitive$|$ness in its Performance Products segment
- Optimization of global production network
- Reduction of around 650 positions globally by 2017
- Investment of €250 million in production network and research and development
- Enhancement of service, reliability and speed for customers
Hong Kong, China/Ludwigshafen, Germany – October 23, 2013 – BASF continues to implement a series of measures within its Performance Products segment to strengthen its competitiveness. As part of its long-term pigment strategy, BASF will enhance customer focus and continue to design differentiated products in high-value applications, and optimize the global production network. Approximately 650 positions globally will be reduced by 2017. At the same time, BASF will invest €250 million in the next four years in its production network as well as in research and development.
“The measures we are undertaking will make us more responsive to market and customer needs. We also continue to significantly invest in innovation as the leading pigment supplier,” said Dr. Markus Kramer, President of the Dispersions & Pigments division.
BASF will optimize its global production network for pigments. The major measures include the closure of the Paisley plant in Scotland and the restructuring of the Huningue plant in France. In addition, BASF is examining strategic options for the site in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The planned investments in the production network will further strengthen the production footprint in Asia Pacific, the fastest-growing market. This also includes the start-up and expansion of a plant for high-performance pigments at BASF’s wholly-owned production site in Nanjing,China, and the expansion of the BASF pigments plant in Ulsan, Korea.
“The future global production network will enable us to reliably and efficiently supply our partners from a competitive base,” added Kramer.
Further measures to improve the competitiveness of the Performance Products segment continue to be analyzed.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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