BASF launches new menthol, linalool, and citral plants, strengthening supply reliability, sustainability, and global fragrance ingredient production.
BASF has officially announced the startup of three newly constructed world-scale production facilities for key aroma ingredients, marking a major step forward in strengthening its global fragrance and flavor value chain. The company’s Aroma Ingredients business unit revealed that the new plants include menthol and linalool production units at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany, along with a citral production facility at its Zhanjiang Verbund site in China. This milestone follows the recent inauguration of BASF’s Zhanjiang Verbund site on March 26, 2026, highlighting the company’s continued commitment to expanding its international manufacturing network. The investment made in Ludwigshafen alone amounts to a triple-digit million-euro expenditure, reflecting the strategic importance of these facilities.
The newly established citral plant in Zhanjiang is designed to serve both regional demand in Asia and BASF’s broader global operations. In addition to supplying the local market, the plant will support downstream production activities, particularly the menthol and linalool facilities located in Ludwigshafen. Citral serves as a critical intermediate in the production of both menthol and linalool, making this integrated setup highly valuable for operational efficiency and supply chain stability.
Menthol is a highly important mint-based ingredient used across multiple industries. It is commonly found in oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, body care formulations, flavor compounds used in confectionery, and various pharmaceutical applications. Its versatility and widespread demand make it a key product within BASF’s aroma ingredients portfolio. Linalool, on the other hand, is known for its pleasant lavender-like scent and is widely utilized in fragrance formulations. One of its largest application areas is laundry care, but it is also extensively used in household cleaning products, personal care formulations, and fine fragrances. Its broad usability makes it one of the most sought-after aroma ingredients in the global market.
The integration of the new menthol and linalool production units into BASF’s Ludwigshafen Verbund site offers significant strategic advantages. By leveraging the existing infrastructure, production expertise, and advanced technologies already present at the site, BASF can optimize efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and maximize operational synergies. This approach aligns with BASF’s long-standing Verbund principle, which focuses on connecting production processes to improve productivity and sustainability.
Dr. Katja Scharpwinkel, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and Site Director of Ludwigshafen, emphasized the importance of these investments by stating that they demonstrate the strength and value of the Verbund concept within BASF’s global production network. She noted that the projects also reflect BASF’s strong and long-term commitment to the Ludwigshafen site as a major pillar of the company’s manufacturing strategy.
Construction for all three facilities began with groundbreaking activities completed by June 2023. Since the first quarter of 2026, the citral plant in Zhanjiang and the expanded downstream operations in Ludwigshafen have been successfully producing in-specification products. These products have been made commercially available to customers starting in April 2026, ensuring an immediate positive impact on supply availability.
The expanded production capacity for some of BASF’s most in-demand aroma ingredients in the citral value chain is expected to create significant new opportunities for customers in the fragrance and flavor industry, particularly in high-growth regions. It will also improve supply security and reliability for a wide range of downstream products.
Steffen Goetz, Senior Vice President of Global Aroma Ingredients, stated that this investment reinforces BASF’s commitment to growing alongside its customers in the fragrance and flavor sector. He highlighted that these large-scale projects were completed safely, on time, within budget, and according to the original project scope across two major Verbund sites on two continents. He further noted that the expanded production network gives BASF one of the broadest manufacturing footprints in the industry, enabling the company to maintain exceptional reliability and supply assurance.
By fully integrating these new facilities into its Verbund sites in Germany and China, BASF is not only improving efficiency and customer support but also advancing its sustainability objectives through optimized resource use and stronger production synergies.
