Site

logo
Mass Balance
Insights
Solutions
BASF Zhanjiang Verbund Site
Entity
BASF Integrated Site (Guangdong) Co. Ltd.,
Predominantly Chemicals Operations
/ Zhanjiang
Guangdong
No. 300, Gangnan Avenue, Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone.
https://www.basf.com/cn/en/who-we-are/organization/key-production-sites/guangdong
Insight Articles
#SI1184

Description


Photo: BASF Zhanjiang Verbund site by Jan 2024. Credit: BASF 

The BASF Zhanjiang Verbund site operates a comprehensive integrated petrochemical complex with a 1 million metric tons per year ethylene steam cracker as its core, along with multiple downstream production units. The facility followed a phased commissioning approach beginning in 2020, with the main Verbund complex starting up in late 2025 and early 2026.

Core Production Units and Capacities with Start-up Dates

Early Phase Units (2020-2024):

  • First preliminary production units: Started 2020​
  • Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) unit: January 2024​

Main Verbund Complex (2025-2026):

  • Steam Cracker Complex (CRC):
    • Steam cracker: 1,000,000 tonnes/year ethylene - Mechanical completion October 2025, production startup January 2026​
    • C4 selective hydrogenation unit
    • Cracked gasoline hydrogenation unit
    • Aromatics extraction unit
    • Isobutylene extraction unit
    • PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) unit
  • Ethylene Derivatives:
    • Ethylene oxide/Ethylene glycol (EO/EG): 660,000/830,000 tonnes/year (including 20,000 tonnes/year PEO) - Mechanical completion October 2025​
    • Polyethylene (PE): 500,000 tonnes/year high-density polyethylene - Mechanical completion October 2025​
    • Non-ionic surfactants (NIS): 215,000 tonnes/year
  • Propylene Derivatives:
    • Glacial acrylic acid Units 1&2 (GAA1&2): 2×190,000 tonnes/year - November 2025​
    • n-Butyl acrylate (nBA): 375,000 tonnes/year (reported as ~400,000 tonnes/year) - Started August 11, 2025, first delivery August 17, 2025​
    • 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA): 100,000 tonnes/year
  • Oxo Chemicals and Intermediates:
    • Butanol/Octanol (OXO-C4): 500,000 tonnes/year - Mechanical completion October 2025​
    • Syngas unit: 50,000 Nm³/hour - Mechanical completion October 2025​
    • Neopentyl glycol (NPG): 80,000 tonnes/year - October 2025​
    • Formaldehyde: 110,000 tonnes/year
    • Methanol: 110,000 tonnes/year
    • Citral: 40,000 tonnes/year

Planned Addition:

  • Isotridecanol: 30,000 tonnes/year - Planned as surfactant raw material​

The entire complex achieved full operational status by the end of 2025 as planned, with the ethylene cracker becoming the world's first steam cracker with 100% renewable energy-powered main compressors when it started up in January 2026.

Please login/register for full access
Insight Articles
Insights from our Experts
UserPic
BASF Inaugurates Zhanjiang Verbund Site: A Strategic Masterstroke in a World Turned Upside Down
Kokel, Nicolas • 4/4/2026 12:26:50 PM

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 11, 2025 shows a panoramic view of BASF (Guangdong) integrated site in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua)

On March 26, 2026,
Click here for full content
UserPic
BASF Commissions World's First Renewable Energy-Powered Steam Cracker at Zhanjiang Verbund Site
Kokel, Nicolas • 1/17/2026 12:17:22 PM

BASF's Zhanjiang ethylene plant | Source: Sina Finance (Jan 8, 2026)

BASF has successfully commissioned the 1 million tonnes per year ethylene plant at its newly built

Click here for full content
Indicator Unit Value
Data Transparency True
Modelling Status True
Site Settings
Status
A
V
P
UoM
Metric tonne (1,000 kg)
Content provided by
Transaction Name Date
Modified by UserPic   Kokel, Nicolas 1/17/2026 10:07 AM
Added by UserPic   Kokel, Nicolas 12/13/2024 12:56 PM

Dashboard

Chart Creators Date
Modified by UserPic Kokel, Nicolas 1/17/2026 10:44 AM
Created by UserPic Kokel, Nicolas 12/13/2024 12:56 PM