BASF officially inaugurated its new world-scale production plant for sodium methylate in Guaratinguetá, Brazil. With a capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year it is its largest site in South America. Production started at the end of 2011. It is the first BASF plant for this product in South America and the second in the world, in addition to a plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Capital expenditure for the project was in the low double-digit million euro range.

Sodium methylate is an efficient and reliable catalyst for the production of biodiesel. Legislation in Brazil requires fuel to contain 5 % biodiesel. In Argentina, biodiesel makes up 7 % of fuel. Other South American countries have similar legislation.

• BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany