June 12, 2013
BASF to expand crop protection production capacity in South America
Press release
BASF announced more than a？？50 million (US$66.40 million) in investment to expand its crop protectionproduction capacities in the Guaratinguet？？ chemical complex, about 170 kilometers from S？￡o Paulo, Brazil.
BASF will increase local production and formulation capacities of its lateststar products, and create 70 new jobs. It will also open a new plant for biological products by August 2013 in Chile. The new products will add further value to the portfolio of the company''s recently established Functional Crop Care business unit.
"This initiative will considerably enhance local production and build on the investments BASF has made in South America in recent years. It also reinforces our commitment to accelerate business growth in the region through innovation and new technologies," stated Markus Heldt, president of BASF''s Crop Protection division, on a recent visit to Brazil.
Heldt also stressed that after the investment is completed, the company will increase exports of products from Brazil to other BASF units globally. "With these investments, we will further balance the production capacity of BASF across the world," said Heldt.
Part of the investment is allocated to the expansion of the fungicide Boscalid manufacturing plant, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2013. Boscalid is an extremely important active ingredient used to fight diseases in crops such as canola, cereals, coffee, fruits and vegetables.
Additionally, the company will invest in a formulation plant for its next-generation fungicide innovation, Xemium？？, which is poised to further strengthen the company''s leading position in the fungicide market. The innovative product, which is in its final phase of registration in Brazil, will help growers to control soybean rust and diseases affecting more than 20 crops.
The Guaratinguet？？ complex will also receive investment to formulate Heat？？, BASF''s latest herbicide, which recently received registration in Brazil. The product is part of the Kixor？？ family of herbicides and highly effective against broadleaf weeds, which is difficult to control, including those that have become resistant to other herbicides. The plant is expected to be ready in the second half of 2014.