BASF temporarily closes German formic acid plant

Published: 06 May, 2004

BASF has responded to an unsatisfactory market situation by closing their formic acid plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, for a scheduled revision during an approximate three week period starting from the end of April.

The acid is used in a number of wet-end processes in leather making including pickling and fixing.

Selected parts of the BASF plant are due to come back on stream in mid-May but some capacities will stay closed for another few weeks. The move comes in response to a persistently unsatisfactory market situation for formic acid in Europe.

The temporary partial plant closure will not affect the supply of formic acid to customers in accordance with ongoing commitments.

Formic acid is used in the leather and textiles industry, as a preservative and in animal feed. Another area of application is the chemical industry.