BASF and Avantium to Form JV for FDCA Plant in Antwerp
- BASF and Avantium signed a letter of intent for a JV to produce and market FDCA and PEF.
- The JV will use Avantium's YXY process to produce FDCA from renewable resources.
- A reference plant with a 50,000 metric ton annual capacity will be built at BASF's Antwerp site.
- FDCA-based PEF offers improved barrier properties and recyclability for packaging.
Joint Venture Agreement
BASF and Avantium have signed a letter of intent and entered into exclusive negotiations to form a joint venture (JV) for the production and marketing of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and polyethylenefuranoate (PEF). FDCA is produced from renewable resources.
Production Process and Plant Construction
The JV will utilize Avantium's YXY process, developed in Amsterdam and Geleen, for FDCA production. A reference plant with an annual capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons will be constructed at BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The goal is to establish leading positions in FDCA and PEF and to license the technology for industrial-scale application.
Material Benefits
FDCA is a key chemical building block for PEF, which offers improved barrier properties for gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen, leading to longer shelf life for packaged products. PEF's higher mechanical strength allows for thinner packaging, reducing material usage. PEF is particularly suitable for food and beverage packaging, such as films and plastic bottles, and is recyclable.
Strategic Importance
The joint venture aims to combine Avantium’s production technology and application expertise with BASF’s market development and large-scale production capabilities. This collaboration is seen as a significant step towards the commercialization and industrialization of FDCA and PEF, with the first commercial production planned to enable market growth.