BASF Aktiengesellschaft (AG), of Ludwigshafen, Germany, was incorporated in 1865. Eight years later, the company became active in North America by establishing a partnership with a New York City-based marketing company.
In 1958, BASF began to build its manufacturing base in North America when the Company established a joint venture with Dow Chemical in Freeport, TX, to produce basic chemicals and fiber precursors. In 1969, BASF acquired Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation, which included the Wyandotte, MI, and Geismar, LA, manufacturing facilities. The Freeport, Wyandotte and Geismar sites remain strong pillars of BASF's manufacturing operations in North America today. In 1985, BASF purchased American Enka |
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Company, which was later combined with Badische Corporation to form the Company's Fiber Products Division.
In 1986, BASF Corporation, the North American affiliate of BASF AG, was formed. BASF today is the world's largest chemical company, It has more than 150 major manufacturing facilities and does business worldwide through five business segments: plastics (including polyolefins and polystyrene), performance products (value-added chemicals, coatings, and dyes), basic chemicals (plasticizers, catalysts, solvents), oil and gas exploration and production (through subsidiary Wintershall AG), and agricultural products (additives, herbicides, and fertilizers). BASF added to its Chemicals segment with the 2006 acquisition of |
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catalysts maker Engelhard, which it then rebranded as BASF Catalysts. It has more than 150 major manufacturing facilities and does business worldwide through five business segments:
Plastics (including polyolefins and polystyrene), performance products (value-added chemicals, coatings, and dyes), basic chemicals (plasticizers, catalysts, solvents), oil and gas exploration and production (through subsidiary Wintershall AG), and agricultural products (additives, herbicides, and fertilizers).
BASF added to its Chemicals segment with the 2006 acquisition of catalysts maker Engelhard, which it then rebranded as BASF Catalysts. |
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