Date: June 12, 2014
BASF has revealed a plan to invest $270m to expand herbicides production capacities at its US facilities in Beaumont, Texas, and Hannibal, Missouri.
As part of the plan, the company will strengthen dicamba and DMTA herbicides production capabilities at the Texas plant and upgrade production at the Missouri facility.
The project will allow BASF to cater to the increasing demand for its herbicide portfolio and the upgraded facilities are expected to come on-stream in 2016/17.
BASF is also weighing additional investments in line with its strategy to invest around €1.8bn until 2018, to increase production of its crop protection products globally.
BASF crop protection division president Markus Heldt said: "The North American market has seen many challenges along with great opportunities in the past few years.
"We are committed to investing in R&D, production and personnel in North America, so that we can deliver effective and efficient solutions for growers and our retailer customers."
The company, meanwhile, is set to launch advanced dicamba formulation Engenia herbicide in 2015.
"Separately, the company signed a global development and license agreement with Mitsui Chemicals Agro for a new insecticide."
Engenia is said to serve as a key component of dicamba/glyphosate tolerant cropping systems and help growers to control resistant weeds in key row crops.
BASF will also offer Nealta for speciality crops, as well as Limus urease inhibitor and seed coating products based on Xemium fungicide.
Separately, the company signed a global development and license agreement with Mitsui Chemicals Agro for a new insecticide.
Under the deal, BASF has an exclusive license to commercialise the new insecticide, which is designed for applications in leafy vegetables, fruiting vegetables, soybeans and other legumes, cotton, corn and rice, as well as urban pest control settings.
Source: Chemicals Technology