Business Segments
We have 11 divisions grouped into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, Agricultural Solutions.
Markets and consumer behavior are moving faster than ever, presenting our customers from a variety of industries and regions with a wide range of challenges. These include managing limited natural resources amid rising demand and the trend toward sustainable products. Our segments’ business models help to solve these challenges and show how we implement our corporate strategy in practical terms.
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 further expand our competitiveness through technological leadership and operational excellence.
| Products | Customer industries and applications | |
| Petrochemicals | Ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, alcohols, solvents, plasticizers, alkylene oxides, glycols, acrylic monomers, styrene and polystyrene, styrenic foams, superabsorbents |
Chemical, plastics, construction, detergent, hygiene, automotive, packaging and textile industries; production of paints, coatings, cosmetics, oilfield and paper chemicals Use in the BASF Verbund |
| Intermediates | Basic products: butanediol and derivatives, alkylamines and alkanolamines, neopentyl glycol, formic and propionic acid Specialties: Specialty amines such as tertiary butylamine and polyetheramine, gas treatment chemicals, vinyl monomers, acid chlorides, chloroformates, chiral intermediates |
Chemical, plastics, coatings, construction, automotive, wind energy, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries; production of detergents and cleaners as well as crop protection products and textile fibers Use in the BASF Verbund |
Materials
The Materials segment comprises the Performance Materials and Monomers divisions. The segment’s portfolio comprises advanced materials and their precursors for new applications and systems such as isocyanates, polyamides and inorganic basic products as well as specialties for the plastics and plastics processing industries. We aim to grow mainly organically, differentiate ourselves from our competitors through specific technology expertise, industry knowledge and customer proximity, and create maximum value in the isocyanate and polyamide value chains.
| Products | Customer industries and applications | |
| Performance Materials | Engineering plastics, biodegradable plastics, foam specialties, polyurethanes | Automotive manufacture, electrical engineering, packaging, games, sports and leisure, household, mechanical engineering, construction, agriculture, medical technology, sanitation and water industry, solar thermal energy and photovoltaics |
| Monomers | Isocyanates (MDI, TDI), ammonia, caprolactam, adipic acid, chlorine, urea, glues and impregnating resins, caustic soda, polyamides 6 and 6.6, standard alcoholates, sulfuric and nitric acid |
Industries such as plastics, woodworking, furniture, packaging, textile, construction and automotive Use in the BASF Verbund |
Industrial Solutions
The Industrial Solutions segment consists of the Dispersions & Resins and the Performance Chemicals divisions. It develops and markets ingredients and additives for industrial applications, such as fuel and lubricant solutions, polymer dispersions, resins, electronic materials, antioxidants, light stabilizers, oilfield chemicals, and mineral processing and hydrometallurgical chemicals. We aim to grow organically in key industries such as automotive, plastics, electronics, and energy and resources, and expand our position by leveraging our comprehensive industry expertise and application know-how.
| Products | Customer industries and applications | |
| Dispersions & Resins | Polymer dispersions, resins, additives, electronic materials | Coatings, construction, paper, printing and packaging, adhesives and electronics industries |
| Performance Chemicals | Antioxidants, light stabilizers and flame retardants for plastic applications Fuel and refinery additives, polyisobutene, brake fluids and engine coolants, lubricant additives and basestocks, components for metalworking fluids and compounded lubricants Process chemicals for the extraction of oil, gas, metals and minerals; chemicals for enhanced oil recovery |
Chemicals, plastics, consumer goods, automotive and transportation industries, as well as energy and resources
|
Surface Technologies
The Surface Technologies segment comprises the Catalysts and Coatings divisions, which offer chemical solutions for surfaces. Its portfolio serves industries such as the automotive and chemical sectors and includes automotive OEM and refinish coatings, surface treatment, catalysts, battery materials, and precious and base metal services. We improve our customers’ applications and processes with tailored products, technologies and solutions, and support them through geographical proximity across all regions. The aim is to drive BASF’s growth by leveraging our portfolio of technologies and expanding our position as a leading and innovative provider of battery materials and surface coatings solutions.
| Products | Customer industries and applications | |
| Catalysts | Automotive catalysts, process catalysts and technologies, battery materials, precious and base metal services |
Automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, refineries, battery manufacturers, solutions for the protection of air quality as well as the production of fuels, chemicals, plastics and battery materials, battery material recycling |
| Coatings | Coatings solutions for automotive applications, technology and system solutions for surface treatments, decorative paints
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Automotive industry, body shops, steel industry, aviation, aluminum applications in the architecture and construction industries, household appliances, painting businesses and private consumers |
Nutrition & Care
In the Nutrition & Care segment, consisting of the Care Chemicals and Nutrition & Health divisions, we serve the growing and increasingly sophisticated demands for fast-moving consumer goods. Our customers include food and feed producers as well as the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, detergent and cleaner industries. We also offer solutions for technical applications and for crop protection and nutrition. We strive to expand our position as a leading provider of ingredients and solutions for consumer goods in the areas of nutrition, home and personal care. Our goal is to drive organic growth. We focus on emerging markets, new business models and sustainability trends in consumer markets, supported by acquisitions.
| Products | Customer industries and applications | |
| Care Chemicals | Ingredients for skin and hair cleansing and care products, such as emollients, cosmetic active ingredients, polymers and UV filters Ingredients for detergents and cleaners in household, institution or industry, such as surfactants, enzymes, chelating agents, water-soluble polymers, biocides and products for optical effects Chemical ingredients and processing additives, for example for crop protection, excipients for chemical processes such as emulsion polymerization, metal surface treatments or textile processing, as well as products for concrete additives, biofuels and other industrial applications |
Cosmetics, detergent and cleaner industry, agrochemical industry, technical applications for various industries |
| Nutrition & Health | Additives for the food and feed industries, such as vitamins, carotenoids, sterols, enzymes, emulsifiers, omega-3 fatty acids Industrial enzymes for bioethanol and food production, natural and synthetic flavors and fragrances, such as citral, geraniol, citronellol, L-menthol and linalool, Isobionics® Santalol, valencene and nootkatone Excipients for the pharmaceutical industry and selected, high-volume active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as ibuprofen and omega-3 fatty acids |
Food and feed industries, flavor and fragrance industry, pharmaceutical industry and bioethanol industry |
Agricultural Solutions
In the Agricultural Solutions segment, we aim to further strengthen our market position as an integrated provider. Our offer comprises seeds and seed treatment products, as well as fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and biological solutions, complemented by digital products to help farmers achieve better yield. Our strategy is based on innovation-driven organic growth and targeted portfolio expansion through acquisitions. Customer needs, societal expectations and reducing environmental impacts are what motivate us to innovate.
| Indications and sectors | Applications | Selected products |
| Fungicides | Protecting crops against harmful fungal diseases; improving plant health, securing yield and harvest quality with chemical and biological solutions |
Boscalid, dimethomorph, F500®, Initium®, metiram, metrafenone, Revysol®, Serifel®, Xemium® |
| Herbicides | Reducing competition from weeds for nutrients, water and sunlight to secure yield and harvest quality | Basta®, dimethenamid-p, Engenia®, Finale®, imazamox, Kixor®, Liberty®, pendimethalin, Tirexor®, topramezone |
| Insecticides | Combating insect pests in agriculture and beyond with chemical and biological solutions, such as in the areas of public health, professional pest control and landscape maintenance | Alpha-cypermethrin, Broflanilide, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, Inscalis®, Interceptor®, Nealta®, teflubenzuron, Termidor® |
| Seed Treatment | Improving seeds’ potential with chemical and biological protection as well as inoculants | Flo Rite®, ILEVO®, Integral®, Nodulator® PRO, Poncho®, Serifel®, Systiva®, Vault® HP, Velondis® |
| Seeds & Traits | Seeds and traits for key field crops such as canola (oilseed rape), cotton, soybean and wheat, as well as vegetable seeds | Credenz®, FiberMax®, InVigor®, LibertyLink®, Nunhems®, Stoneville® |