Chennai, October 30, 2025 — In a major boost to India’s industrial and manufacturing ecosystem, BASF, one of the world’s leading chemical companies, announced the launch of its new catalyst manufacturing plant at its existing site near Chennai. The ₹1,000-crore investment underscores BASF’s long-term commitment to India as a strategic growth market.
The facility will produce advanced automotive and process catalysts — key components used in controlling emissions and enhancing production efficiency. This move not only supports India’s growing demand for sustainable technologies but also reduces reliance on imports of high-value chemical intermediates.
Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, Managing Director of BASF India, emphasized that this new plant will create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, foster R&D collaboration, and enhance India’s exports of advanced catalysts. The project aligns closely with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) vision, which aims to make India a manufacturing hub for specialized chemical products.
Experts in the chemical industry see this as a sign of BASF’s confidence in India’s policy reforms and market potential. The Chennai site also supports green manufacturing standards, using energy-efficient systems and waste-minimization practices to meet BASF’s global sustainability targets.
With this expansion, BASF strengthens its footprint across Asia and positions India as a vital node in its global network of catalyst technology production.