BASF to add 25th plant to Freeport site

BASF on Monday announced it is building a new production plant at its sprawling Freeport campus, putting it in line with other chemical companies that are taking advantage of low-cost natural gas in expanding U.S. facilities.

The new production facility will join 24 other plants at BASF's Freeport site and is expected to begin operations in mid-2014. It will churn out acrylic emulsion polymers that are used for architectural coatings, adhesives and in construction chemicals.

Although the primary raw material used to make the emulsion polymers is oil-based, site senior vice president Chris Witte said low-cost energy brought about by a surge in domestic natural gas drilling is a benefit. See the full story at www.chron.com.