Basf – We create chemistry

In January 2005, BASF acquired the worldwide electronics chemicals business from Germany-based Merck KGaA. This makes them a leading supplier of electronics chemicals for the rapidly growing semiconductor and flat screen industries.
BASF and Shell Chemicals sold Basell, a 50-50 joint venture that is one of the world’s leading producers of polyolefins.
BASF and Gazprom concluded a groundbreaking agreement on European energy supply. It involved the participation in the German-Russian, Baltic Sea pipeline, Nord Stream, whose first link would start operations in 2011. Furthermore, BASF and Gazprom agreed to develop the Yuzhno Russkoye natural gas field. The production of natural gas in the western Siberian natural gas field would begin in 2008.

A new plant for producing superabsorbers with a capacity of 180,000 tons started up in Freeport, Texas in 2007. At the same time, the capacity of the plant in Antwerp, Belgium was increased from 60,000 to 175,000 tons.

Serving as an example in the chemical industry: BASF officially converts to a European Stock Corporation in 2008. This step was intended to underscore its “commitment to Europe,” and the company is now known as BASF SE (Societas Europaea).
Their products contribute to climate protection by saving three times the volume of greenhouse gas emissions used to produce, apply, and dispose of these products. This is demonstrated by the comprehensive CO2 report, which BASF was the first company in the world to introduce.
They opened Germany’s first employee center for work-life management (“LuMit”) in Ludwigshafen. Here, BASF bundled and expanded its various offers concerning work-life-balance, mainly focusing on the areas of work and family (LuKids), sports and health promotion (LuFit) and social counselling by the BASF foundation (LuCare).