January 8, 2026 14:01

The new BASF steam cracker has started operations in Zhanjiang, in southern China. The unit is part of a broader project that will see the integrated chemical complex (Verbund) become, over the next five years, the German group’s third-largest production site after Ludwigshafen and Antwerp, with total investments estimated at €8.7 billion.

With a nominal capacity of 1 million tons per year of ethylene and propylene, the cracker is the first in the world to use 100% renewable energy to power its main compressors (eDrives).

Once fully ramped up, it will feed several downstream plants producing petrochemicals, intermediates and plastics, some of which have already been completed, including facilities for engineering plastics and TPU.

In parallel with the start-up of the new unit, BASF has also brought on stream plants for ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol (EG) and polyethylene (HDPE).

“This important milestone at our Zhanjiang Verbund site significantly strengthens BASF’s diversified value chains in China and positions us well to support customers across a wide range of industries,” said Stephan Kothrade, chief technology officer of BASF.

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