BASF is to increase production of emollient specialities at its Düsseldorf plant for skin and sun care products. The German chemical company has added a new reactor and upgraded distillation units that will expand production capacity to meet demand for emollients. The new facility is scheduled to come on stream in the third quarter of 2025.
Mary Kurian, president of BASF's Care Chemicals division, explained in a company press release that it is important to invest in the cosmetic ingredients segment: "BASF sees the growth potential of specialties for the personal care industry in Europe and, as a market leader, we constantly invest to support this growth with our customers."
Düsseldorf is home to BASF's third largest site in Europe and is also BASF's key centre for the production and development of cosmetic ingredients.
BASF saw its net profit plummet in the second quarter of the year. The German chemical company then underperformed in the last three months. Its profit fell by 76% compared to the same period last year, when it posted a profit of 2.09 billion euros. As a result, the German group was forced to revise and lower its expectations for the remainder of 2023.
BASF, which at the beginning of the year forecast 2023 sales of around 84-87 billion euros, said in June that sales would be between 73 and 76 billion euros.