BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany: www.basf.com) has cancelled plans by Ciba for a joint venture with Astra Polymer Compounding Co (Al-Khobar / Saudi Arabia: www.astra-polymers.com) to produce customer-specific antioxidant blends (CSB) in the Middle East. The plans were explored by the plastics additives unit of the former Swiss speciality chemicals producer prior to its acquisition by the Ludwigshafen chemical giant last year (see Plasteurope.com of 20.04.2009). BASF said the termination will have no impact on the existing CSB tolling agreement between the companies.

Explaining the jv’s cancellation, John Frijns, BASF’s senior vice president for plastics additives in Europe/EAWA, said a “thorough evaluation” following the integration of Ciba has “furnished new options that will deliver more value.” BASF, which following the Ciba acquisition claims to be the leading global plastics additives producer (see Plasteurope.com of 30.06.2010), “is committed to support polymer growth in the Middle East, he added. An evaluation of several investment options in the CSB market is currently being finalised.