Site

BASF-YPC began constructing the first phase of its Integrated Petrochemical Site in September 2001, which started commercial operation in June 2005. With an investment amounting to USD 2.9 billion, BASF-YPC built 10 process plants with a steam cracker plant of 600,000 ton/year ethylene as the centerpiece in the first phase. All plants employ state-of-the-art technology and BASF “Verbund” concept to save on raw materials and energy, reduce emissions, cut logistics costs and exploit synergies. The site also has a gas turbine combined cycle power plant and several international ports to ensure optimum energy supply and logistics.

In September 2009, BASF-YPC initiated the second phase development, with an investment of around USD 1.4 billion in total, including expansions of existing plants and construction of new facilities. The commercial operation began in January 2012. The existing steam cracker was expanded to produce 740,000 ton/year of ethylene along with the expansion of the existing ethylene oxide plant and the construction of a new ethylene oxide purification unit. New plants in the expanded ethylene oxide derivatives value chain include a non-ionic surfactants plant, an amines complex for the production of ethanolamines, ethyleneamines and dimethylethanolamine, and a dimethylaminoethyl acrylate plant. The newly integrated C4 complex consists of a butadiene extraction plant, an isobutene extraction plant, a plant for highly reactive polyisobutene, and a 2-propyl-heptanol plant. The oxo-C4 plant was also expanded.

In September 2010, Yangzi-BASF Styrenics Company Limited was merged into BASF-YPC. The former, a joint venture between BASF and Yangzi Petrochemical Company Limited was founded in 1994 with a total investment of RMB 2.2 billion.

After that, BASF-YPC expanded its acrylic acid value chain with additional acrylic, butyl acrylate plants and superabsorbent polymer plant, the three sets of facilities were put into operation in 2014. In 2015 BASF-YPC expanded the ethylene oxide plant and built a new plant of neopentylglycol. In 2019 BASF-YPC inaugurated the new propionic acid plant and expanded in 2020 the plant of neopentylglycol. 

In 2023, the capacity expansion of propionic acid, propionaldehyde, ethyleneamines, ethanolamines and purified ethylene oxide was successfully completed, and a new tert-butyl acrylate plant was put into operation. Up to now, the cumulative investment of the parent companies stands at approximately USD 6 billion.