The investment for this final expansion phase, which takes place from 2022 to 2025, amounts to US$780 million. Including the first and second phases, the investment volume totals around US$1 billion, making the MDI expansion project BASF’s largest wholly-owned investment in North America.

“BASF already ranks among the largest and most forward-looking chemical companies in the US” said Michael Heinz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BASF Corporation. “Through this investment, we demonstrate our commitment to meeting the needs of our customers while strengthening our foundation for continued growth in the important US market.”

BASF welcomed Clay Schexnayder, Speaker of the House for the Louisiana State Legislature for a ceremonial ‘tilling-of-the soil’ to officially mark the groundbreaking of the final phase of the expansion.

“We are committed to continuing the success story together with our North American MDI customers,” said Stefan Doerr, Senior Vice President, Monomers North America. “BASF is investing to support our customers in various industries with significant growth potential in MDI applications, including transportation, automotive, footwear and furniture.”

Kicked off in 2018, the expansion project follows a staggered approach. First, a new MDI synthesis unit was put into operation in October 2020. The second phase, which started operations in 2021, expanded several existing upstream units. The third and final phase will add new upstream units and a splitter. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology, the expansion will showcase the highest safety standards combined with advanced digitalisation in its operations.