BASF Invests $270M in Texas Herbicide Plant Expansion

BASF opened an expanded facility in Beaumont, TX to support efforts to increase production of dicamba, the active ingredient in the German firm’s newest herbicide product, Eugenia, the company announced Tuesday.

“We are proud of our world-scale production facilities in Beaumont and of our continuous effort to develop and improve important products,” President of BASF’s Crop Protection division, Markus Heldt, said in a statement. “The expansion is a reflection of our commitment to North America and to driving strategic investments to match our customers’ expectations.”

Currently providing more than half of the world’s dicamba supply, BASF invested $270 million in the expansion to boost production by over 50%. Engenia includes a newly-formulated dicamba molecule, BAPMA salt, that is designed for dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. The new product was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December 2016.

“With the successful launch of Engenia, we are responding to our customers’ needs for simple and reliable herbicide solutions. We are growing our family with the most technologically advanced formulations to offer farmers flexible and effective weed control. Growers can expect further dicamba offers coming from us, including new mixtures and modes of action,” said Paul Rea, senior vice president of crop protection at BASF North America.

Engenia will be launched first in United States, with a debut in Latin America planned soon after. BASF said it has invested more than $370 million over the past five years to expand the company’s manufacturing capacity.

“In addition to the Beaumont site investments, BASF has also invested more than $290 million in eight other agricultural products facilities along with facilities that support our agricultural business across North America. Overall, these investments highlight BASF’s commitment to economic development in the communities and regions we serve,” said Rea.

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