BASF will close its polystyrene compounds production in Ludwigshafen

BASF will close its polystyrene compounds production in Ludwigshafen

BASF has sold its speciality polystyrene business to polymer compound producer Spartech Polycom for an undisclosed sum. The production of the business which turns over E9m will be transferred to Spartech’s plant in Donchery, northern France. BASF said it would meanwhile go ahead with the planned closure of its polystyrene compounds production in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

BASF’s director of strategic business development and technology for styrenics Herbert Wieland said: “The sale of this speciality polystyrene business is part of our strategy to consolidate our product range and to concentrate styrenics production on high-volume products in high-efficiency plants.”

Spartech said it anticipated sales growth and was expanding the Donchery site. The speciality polystyrene business includes compounds with flame-retardant or anti-static qualities used in the electronic, electrical and packaging sectors.