Basf(US:BASFY) Huan Qiu Shi Bao·2026-01-05 22:45Group 1 - BASF Group will officially launch its comprehensive production base in Zhanjiang, China, in the first quarter of this year, representing the company's largest single investment project to date at approximately €8.7 billion [1] - The Zhanjiang base will become BASF's third-largest integrated production site globally, following Ludwigshafen in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium [1] - BASF views the Chinese market as an essential part of its future development, with expectations that 80% of global chemical industry growth will be concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region by 2035 [1] Group 2 - A survey by the German Chamber of Commerce in China indicates that 84% of German chemical companies expect an increase in average annual growth rates over the next five years, with 61% planning to increase investments in China in the next two years [3] - BASF has been facing challenges due to weak demand and falling prices, compounded by U.S. tariff policies, leading to concerns from major shareholders about the company's increasing reliance on the Far East as a leading market [3] - BASF's CEO stated that the chemical industry may be experiencing its toughest period in 25 years, but the company emphasizes that its expansion in China does not imply a focus on a single market or a shift in production [3]