BASF SE's 100,000-metric-ton-per-year nylon polymerization plant in Shanghai has officially come on stream.
The company on May 6 inaugurated the wholly owned facility in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, which also is home to a world-scale facility for integrated isocyanates, operated by BASF and partners.
The new plant makes Ultramid nylon 6 and 6/6 resins.
Kurt Bock, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF, noted this is the first investment in nylon polymerization for BASF in Asia Pacific, enabling the company to respond to customers' needs faster and with more flexibility.
Demand for nylon products in engineering plastics, fiber and film will continue to see strong growth, particularly in China, added Albert Heuser, president of the company's Greater China operations.
"With the local production facility, we are well-positioned to support our customers' strong growth and help them to develop innovative products for tapping into market opportunities," Heuser said.
BASF also operates Ultramid polymerization plants in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Freeport, Texas; and São Paulo.
Last week BASF hit another milestone in its China production, beginning trial production in the first precursor plant of its integrated 400,000-metric-ton-per-year methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) complex in Chongqing.
In Greater China, BASF posted sales of over 5.5 billion euros ($6.1 billion) in 2014 and employed more than 8,000 people as of the end of that year.