BASF has strengthened its position in the global personal care ingredients market with the inauguration of a new specialty emollients production plant in Düsseldorf, marking the site's largest investment in a decade.

 

The new facility will produce specialty emollients used in skin care and sun protection products, significantly expanding BASF's manufacturing capacity to meet rising demand across the European and global cosmetics markets. 

 

The investment, valued in the mid double-digit million-euro range, also supports the company's focus on renewable raw material-based ingredients and more sustainable personal care formulations.

 

The project was officially inaugurated on July 16 in the presence of customers, BASF executives, representatives from the City of Düsseldorf, political leaders and industry associations.

 

Agus Ciputra, head of BASF's global Personal Care business unit, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment.

 

"The new plant is more than an investment in production. It is an investment in our expertise and in our ability to help customers bring differentiated products to market. By expanding our production capacity for specialty emollients based on renewable raw materials, we are laying the foundation for innovative personal care solutions that meet evolving consumer expectations for performance, formulation flexibility and sustainability."

 

The facility strengthens BASF's ability to supply emollients—key ingredients that help retain skin moisture while enhancing the sensory feel of personal care formulations—as demand continues to grow for high-performance skincare products.

 

The facility strengthens BASF's ability to supply emollients—key ingredients that help retain skin moisture while enhancing the sensory feel of personal care formulations—as demand continues to grow for high-performance skincare products.

 

Sven Crone, who is globally responsible for production in BASF's Care Chemicals division, said the investment also reinforces the long-term competitiveness of the Düsseldorf site.

 

"We are convinced that our Düsseldorf production site is well positioned for the future, and we are taking decisive steps to secure its competitiveness. This capacity expansion is one of the strongest signals of that commitment. 

 

"From planning and regulatory approval to the construction phase, we overcame many challenges and, thanks to the excellent collaboration among all those involved, were able to commission the plant after only two years of construction. I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed."

 

The Düsseldorf site is BASF's third-largest production location in Europe and serves as the company's largest global hub for the production and development of cosmetic ingredients. The latest expansion further strengthens what BASF describes as its most comprehensive emollients portfolio for the cosmetics and personal care industry.