BASF and Sinopec building plasticizer feedstock plant in China

BASF SE and its joint venture partner China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) have broken ground on a new world-scale isononanol (INA) plant in China.

At start-up in 2015, the plant, said to be the first of its kind in China, will serve the increasing market demand for next-generation plasticizers. A newly-formed 50-50 joint venture company has been created, BASF MPCC Company Limited.

INA is used as the feedstock for the production of next generation plasticizers, including diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and non-phthalate plasticizer Hexamoll DINCH. DINP is widely used as a plasticizer in industrial applications such as automotive, wires, building and construction, while Hexamoll DINCH is BASF’s non-phthalate plasticizer for sensitive applications, including toys as well as food contact and medical applications.

BASF and Sinopec have a longtime partnership and jointly operate BASF-YPC Co. Ltd., a 50-50 joint venture formed in 2000.