Specialty chemical supplier BASF has announced that it will expand its emollients and waxes production capacity with a new plant at its site in Jinshan, Shanghai. The investment will complement the company’s current production of wax esters, emulsifiers and primary surfactants in Jinsan, to better serve the growing Asia Pacific personal care market.

“Emollients and waxes are important in governing the tactile feeling and skin sensation of end products. China is one of the biggest personal care markets. Strengthening our production facility in China allows us to serve customers in the region quicker with greater flexibility. Combined with our technical services, market insights and knowledge, a reliable supply of high-quality emollients and waxes will complement our strengths in serving Asian customers better,” said Thomas Groesser, Senior Vice President of Care Chemicals at BASF Asia Pacific.

The additional facility will go on stream in the first quarter of 2017. Thanks to its close proximity to BASF Innovation Campus Asia Pacific, BASF’s largest research site in the region, the plant will enable close collaboration in product development to meet specific Asian personal care needs.