JAPAN DISASTER: BASF curbs production, closes plants

15 March 2011 18:55  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS)--BASF has curbed production at some of its sites in Japan and closed down others following last week’s earthquake and tsunami, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

But BASF's Friederike Segeberg would not confirm a media report that the company drove down production at all its 27 production sites in Japan because of energy and power supply problems.

“Some of our sites are closed, but others, in regions that were not affected, continue to operate,” she told ICIS.

She did not specify which plants were closed.

The company expects to provide an update on its operations in Japan on Wednesday, she said.

According to information on its website, BASF has about 1,600 employees in Japan at sites all across the country.

Earlier, Germany-based pharmaceuticals and chemicals major Bayer said its plants in Japan – producing pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and chemicals and plastics – were not harmed.

The Bayer plants, located some 450-900km (280-559 miles) south-west of Tokyo, had power supplies and continued to be operational, a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Bayer has given its 700 employees in Tokyo and the greater Tokyo region the option to move to Osaka amid continued uncertainty over the safety of Japan’s nuclear plants north of Tokyo after last week’s earthquake and tsunami.

Germany’s LANXESS said it closed headquarters in Tokyo on safety grounds.

Also on Tuesday, Bayer, Dow Chemical, BHP Billiton and other firms announced millions of dollars in donations and humanitarian aid for Japan.

For more on BASF and other producers visit ICIS company intelligence

By: Stefan Baumgarten
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly