- BASF built world-scale menthol and linalool plants in Ludwigshafen and a citral plant in Zhanjiang.
- Investment in Ludwigshafen was in the triple-digit million-euro range and created 60 new jobs.
- Groundbreaking concluded June 2023 and commercial production began in Q1 2026 with products available to customers from April 2026.
- The Zhanjiang citral plant supplies local markets and feeds expanded downstream menthol and linalool production in Ludwigshafen to boost supply reliability.
Projects and investment
BASF commissioned three world-scale plants: menthol and linalool at Ludwigshafen, Germany, and citral in Zhanjiang, China; the Ludwigshafen investment was in the triple-digit million-euro range and created about 60 jobs.
Timeline and commissioning
Groundbreaking for the three sites was completed by June 2023; commercial production began in Q1 2026 with products available to customers from April 2026; the Zhanjiang Verbund site inauguration took place on March 26, 2026.
Products and applications
The Zhanjiang citral plant supplies local markets and feeds downstream production; menthol is used in oral and body care, confectionery flavorings and pharmaceuticals, while linalool is used in laundry care, home and personal care and fine fragrances.
Integration and supply impact
New menthol and linalool capacities were integrated into the Ludwigshafen Verbund to leverage existing assets and production technologies, supporting increased supply reliability for aroma ingredients and downstream products.
