BASF to build an integrated 300 kt TDI plant in Ludwigshafen

It is also planned to expand the aromatics complex at the site for the supply of toluene. Total investment including the required infrastructure at Ludwigshafen site will be about EUR 1 billion and create around 200 additional jobs. Production will start at the end of 2014. BASF plans to close down its 80,000 t/y TDI production plant in Schwarzheide, Germany, when the new plant goes on stream.

“This project will position us as the low-cost TDI producer in Europe due to economies of scale and the highly efficient integration into our Verbund,” said Wayne T. Smith, President of BASF’s Polyurethanes division. “Building our new TDI plant at our largest Verbund site in Ludwigshafen gives us the advantage of the excellent production synergies, raw material integration and logistics. Together with our existing TDI sites in Asia and North America we will be able to optimally serve customers in all major markets."

“We are constantly developing the Ludwigshafen site further to remain competitive internationally. In addition to such important investments in production, this involves modernization and targeted development of the whole infrastructure,” said Dr. Bernhard Nick, Site Manager of the BASF Ludwigshafen Verbund site. “The new TDI plant and the related facilities strengthen the competitiveness of BASF’s largest Verbund site.” Associated investments in precursors and infrastructure will support additional growth in other BASF value chains.

According to the company, at Schwarzheide, BASF will develop its site structures according to the future needs over the next years to focus more on specialities. With the investment BASF will have two strong sites in Europe for polyurethane basic products: Ludwigshafen for the production of TDI and Antwerp for the production of MDI and propylene oxide.

BASF is currently operating TDI plants in Geismar, Louisiana; Yeosu, Korea; Caojing, China and Schwarzheide, Germany.