BASF has inaugurated its world-scale production complex for acrylic acid, butyl acrylate and superabsorbent polymers in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. These are the first plants for acrylic acid and super-absorbent polymers in South America. The complex has a capacity of 160,000t/yr of acrylic acid. The investment of more than €500M is the largest in BASF’s more than century-long history in South America.
The three plants at the complex have created 230 direct jobs and 600 indirect jobs in the region.
BASF has recently started up similar plants for acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers in Nanjing, China. Brazilian employees were trained at BASF sites in the USA, Belgium and China.
In addition to the new Camaçari complex, BASF will convert its butyl acrylate plant at its existing site in Guaratinguetá near São Paulo to produce 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, an important raw material for the adhesive and coatings industries. This will be the first plant of its kind in South America. Production is expected to start in 2016 and will be based on acrylic acid produced in Camaçari.
