BASF and Sinopec JV expands production of NPG

BASF and Sinopec have entered into a joint venture to expand production capacity for neopentylglycol (NPG) in China at the Verbund site in Nanjing, China. The expansion will double capacity at the plant, established in 2015, to 80,000 tonnes/year. It is expected to come on stream in 2020. NPG is used in many end-use applications due to its high chemical and thermal stability, particularly in coatings, unsaturated polyester and alkyd resins, lubricants and plasticisers.