BASF Highlights Sustainable Chemical Production As It Inaugurates Its World-Scale Verbund Site In China
Zhanjiang, China - 26 March 2026 – BASF today announced the official inauguration of its state-of-the-art Verbund production site in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province.
Covering four square kilometres, this €8.7 billion facility represents a paradigm shift in sustainable chemical manufacturing.
Fully powered by renewable electricity, the site reinforces BASF’s market position in China whilst addressing the urgent global need for decarbonised industrial processes.
These critical materials will supply the transportation, consumer goods, electronics, and personal care industries, directly serving the domestic market through a strategic local-for-local approach.
Dr. Markus Kamieth, CEO of BASF, stated, “Zhanjiang shows what the future of chemistry looks like: efficient, digital and sustainable by design. The site showcases a smart integrated Verbund structure on an industrial scale.” He added, “Bringing this site to life took real ownership, speed and an exceptional level of commitment from our BASF team. Completing a project of this magnitude and complexity on time and under budget is remarkable.”
By leveraging Verbund integration, process innovations, and renewable energy, the site reduces CO2 emissions by up to 50 percent compared to conventional petrochemical facilities.
Long-term green power purchase agreements and offshore wind farm investments ensure a 100 percent renewable electricity supply.
Dr. Stephan Kothrade, Chief Technology Officer of BASF SE, noted, “It sets new benchmarks for sustainable chemical production in China and worldwide.” The facility features a flex-feed steam cracker with a one-million-tonne annual ethylene capacity, uniquely equipped with main compressors powered entirely by renewable energy to support the production of high-quality, low-CO2 products.
Having successfully launched 18 plants and 32 production lines, BASF is currently manufacturing over 70 products at the site. Haryono Lim, President of Mega Projects Asia at BASF, said, “This makes us an attractive partner for our customers in China. Together with customers and partners, we will drive innovation and transformation forward in one of China’s most economically dynamic regions.”
It will operate solely under the company's purview, serving as a critical platform for future growth.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future.
We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility.
The Zhanjiang Verbund site in Guangdong Province in southern China:
It stretches along the coastline and covers an area of around four square kilometers.
The company maintains a strong production, sales, and innovation footprint with major sites in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing, and Zhanjiang, alongside numerous smaller sites across the country.
In 2025, BASF achieved sales of approximately €8.2 billion with customers in Greater China and employed nearly 13,000 people.
