BASF books Rp 400b in sales

BASF books Rp 400b in sales

JAKARTA (JP): BASF Indonesia Group, a subsidiary of German
chemical maker BASF AG, announced yesterday its sales volume hit
Rp 400 billion (US$165.35 million) last year.

BASF Indonesia's chief executive officer, Danny Jozal,
attributed the increase to the production of pigments or pigment
preparations, polymer dispersions and process chemicals for the
paper, textile and leather industries, and vitamins for animal
nutrition.

"Our marketing activities in chemicals fertilizers and
plastics also contributed to the success," he said.

Jozal said the company expected steady growth because of
growing opportunities in the field of polymer dispersions and
process chemicals.

The process chemicals and polymer division's production
capacity rose to 60,000 a year.

To strengthen its position in ASEAN markets the company had
established a regional customer service laboratory in Jakarta, he
said.

"We aim to export between 25 and 30 percent of our total
production output," he said.

He said BASF would buy a 20-hectare plot for its new site this
year as part of its expansion program.

In 1996, BASF withdrew from its global tape and cassette
making business to concentrate on its core business of chemical
products because of the rapid change of recording technology.
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