BASF explores opportunities for acrylic Acid, butyl acrylate, superabsorbents in Brazil

29-Mar-11

BASF is exploring opportunities in Brazil to build an acrylic acid, butyl acrylate and superabsorbent polymers manufacturing complex. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Braskem, which will secure supply of propylene feedstock by Braskem to BASF. BASF is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate the technical, commercial and economic viability of operating a world-scale acrylic acid and derivatives manufacturing complex in Brazil. The study, due for completion during this year, will determine which facilities will be included as well as their capacities. Construction is expected to begin next year with completion targeted for 2014-15. BASF is the global leading producer of acrylic acid with combined capacity of 1.19 mln tpa, including 320,000 tpa each at Antwerp and Ludwigshafen, 230,000 tpa at Freeport, TX, 160,000 tpa at Nanjing, China, and 160,000 tpa at Quantan, Malaysia.