BASF to reorganize four of its businesses

BASF plans to reorganize its paper, water, oilfield and mining businesses within its performance chemicals division to foster customer and industry focus, while also increasing competitiveness.

BASF will combine its Water Solutions and Paper Chemicals businesses to form a new global business unit called Paper and Water Chemicals. According to BASF, merging the two businesses will enable efficiency gains and create additional market opportunities.

The company will create Oilfield and Mining Solutions as another global business unit. The company says teams in this unit will increase effectiveness and focus on developing and commercializing innovative and sustainable products to support global customers.

“The further development of our organization will strengthen customer focus,” says Dr. Christian Fischer, president of the Performance Chemicals division. “The stepwise expansion of our polymer production network and investments in bio-acrylamide raw materials as well as the launch of innovative products will accelerate profitable growth.”

Both business units will be headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and the changes will be made effective Jan. 1. As a result of the business unit realignment, BASF expects to reduce about 120 positions worldwide until the end of 2016.