BASF moves to improve its global pigment’s competitiveness

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 optimise the global production network.

Approximately 650 positions globally will be reduced by 2017. At the same time, BASF will invest €250M in the next four years in its production network, as well as in R&D.

"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 optimise 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 fastestgrowing 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 analysed.