Overview
- BASF, which officially opened the Zhanjiang integrated complex Thursday, had already started production there in November 2025.
- The site is the company’s third‑largest globally, covers about four square kilometers, and is set to employ roughly 2,000 people.
- Built on schedule and within budget and financed by local Chinese banks, the project is tailored to serve customers in Guangdong’s industrial region.
- CEO Markus Kamieth said the site will only make money from next year and still targets about €1 billion in annual earnings as low chemical prices follow a capacity glut in China.
- BASF cites China’s outsized role in global chemical demand and future growth, while critics highlight dependence on an authoritarian state, possible Taiwan Strait shipping risks, and even board‑level dissent over the investment.