Expanded BASF vitamin A plant in final testing phase

07-Jul-2023 - Last updated on 12-Jul-2023 at 07:34 GMT

BASF citral plant, Ludwigshafen, Germany © BASF

BASF reports that the construction phase of the expansion project for its vitamin A formulation plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, ran as scheduled, with the build completed in May.

“The plant team is currently performing the first functional runs. This is the last essential step before the vitamin A formulation plant goes into operation. The company is using digital solutions and mobile devices to efficiently perform comprehensive, functional tests on machines, equipment, and automatic steering modules in a safe and efficient manner.

“The vitamin A formulation plant has been constructed using BASF’s vast production as well as formulation expertise in vitamins and incorporates new features which will further enhance competitive and reliable operations.”

"The full integration of the powder formulation facility into the vitamin A production complex ensures an efficient use of resources."

The Germany headquartered company plans to reach stable production of vitamin A1000 in September this year at the facility and, in a step-wise approach to capacity expansion, it said it will gradually ramp-up commercial volumes afterwards.

The production of vitamin AD3 will start later this year, it confirmed.

BASF said the investment underlines its ambition to meet market demands for vitamin A in the long term and ensures reliable, high-quality supply to its customers.

The expansion also emphasizes the role of vitamin A as a strategic pillar for the animal nutrition business, it commented. The specialty chemicals player boosted its total annual nameplate capacity for vitamin A acetate to 3,800 metric tons in July, 2021.

Turbulent times

This additional vitamin A capacity from BASF is coming online during a period of economic uncertainty and a volatile vitamin market.

Only last month, dsm-firmenich announced a series of actions to restructure its vitamin business, with it confirming there would be extended shutdowns of its vitamin A and E plants in Sisseln in Switzerland, in Q3 2023, aimed at reducing its working capital and inventories.

Kemiex commented then that the Swiss-Dutch group could be the "canary in the coalmine" for other players in "oversupplied" additive segments.