BASF has successfully completed the start-up of its steam cracker at the newly constructed Zhanjiang Verbund site in southern China, marking a major milestone in the company’s global expansion and sustainable manufacturing strategy. The project was commissioned on schedule and represents a significant advancement in low-carbon chemical production.
The Zhanjiang steam cracker is the world’s first cracker to operate with 100% renewable energy powering its main compressors through advanced electric drive systems (eDrives). As the core of BASF’s Verbund integrated production network, the steam cracker produces essential base chemicals, including ethylene and propylene, which serve as key feedstocks for multiple downstream plants on site.
With an annual ethylene capacity of approximately one million metric tons, the facility enables efficient chemical value chains by cracking long-chain hydrocarbons such as naphtha and butane using steam. This integrated approach improves resource efficiency while reducing overall emissions, reinforcing BASF’s leadership in sustainable chemical manufacturing.
Dr. Stephan Kothrade, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and Chief Technology Officer, emphasized that the successful steam cracker start-up significantly enhances BASF’s value chains in China and strengthens the company’s ability to support customers across diverse industries.
In addition, BASF has recently brought several downstream plants into safe operation at the Zhanjiang site, including facilities for ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene, following the successful start-up of multiple propylene-based units. Once fully operational, the Zhanjiang Verbund site will become BASF’s third-largest Verbund site globally, after Ludwigshafen and Antwerp.
Designed as a benchmark for sustainable production in China and worldwide, the Zhanjiang Verbund site will be supplied entirely with electricity from renewable sources. Its products are primarily intended for the Chinese market, the world’s largest and fastest-growing chemical market, further strengthening BASF’s long-term commitment to China.
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