BASF-Jihua Plans to Expand Annual Production Capacity

BASF JIHUA Neopentyl Glycol Co., Ltd (BJNC) is located in Jilin, Northeast China. It was built jointly by BASF and Jilin Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. Both parties hold 60% and 40% of the shares respectively. The company plans to expand the annual production capacity of its plant by 10,000 tons. Together with BASF’s expansion plan announced in March, BASF’s global production capacity for Neopentyl Glycol products will reach 165,000 tons per year by the end of the year.

Neopentyl glycol (NPG), a white crystalline solid, is odorless and hygroscopic. It is mainly used in the production of unsaturated resins, oil-free alkyd resins, plasticizers for polyurethane foam and elastomers, surfactants, insulating materials, printing inks, repellents, additives for synthetic aviation lubricant oils, etc.

Also, Neopentyl glycol is an excellent solvent. It can be used for the selective separation of aromatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkyl hydrocarbons. Its amino baking lacquer has good light retention and does not yellow. Neopentyl glycol is also used as a raw material for the production of stabilizers and pesticides.

We are supporting our customers in their growing presence in key markets by increasing plant capacity in their key market locations,” said Mr. Ding Rui Bo, Director of BASF’s Polyols & Specialties Strategic Business Unit, Asia Pacific. This investment demonstrates BASF-Jiffec Neopentyl Glycol Ltd’s commitment to its partners to further strengthen our ability to provide prompt and trusted service to our customers in the ever-changing and rapidly evolving Asian markets.”

Polyol is a chemical term for a large group of alcohols containing two or more hydroxyl groups in the molecule. Polyols are generally soluble in water. Most polyols are known to have high boiling points. They are viscous liquids or crystalline solids with high boiling points, high solubility for polar substances, low toxicity and volatility. Its boiling point, viscosity, relative density and melting point increase with the increase of molecular weight.

The expansion project stems from the growing market demand for multifunctional chemical intermediates, mainly for coatings applications. For example, a key synthetic component of environmentally friendly powder coating resins is the superior performance neopentyl glycol. The product is also used as a binder in different types of liquid coatings as unsaturated polyester and alkyd resins.

As the global market leader in neopentyl glycol, BASF is the only company with production facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia. This is made possible by the integration of its production and upstream feedstock plants. BASF guarantees a high degree of reliability of supply to its customers.