BASF exits Ludwigshafen hydrosulfite production in Silox deal
BASF has sold part of its hydrosulfite business to Silox GmbH in a deal finalised this year. The agreement includes key assets from BASF's Ludwigshafen site, though production there will now stop. Both companies have confirmed the transaction strengthens Silox's role in global markets.
The sale follows BASF's decision to exit hydrosulfite production in Ludwigshafen as part of a wider review of its portfolio. While the German site will no longer manufacture these chemicals, BASF will continue making hydrosulfites at other locations, including Geismar and Freeport in the US, as well as Nanjing in China.
Silox has acquired intellectual property, technical expertise, production equipment, and brand rights linked to hydrosulfite. The company, which already operates in Belgium, India, and Canada, specialises in sodium hydrosulfite-based agents used in textile dyeing and paper bleaching. Jean-Christophe Bogaert, Silox's managing director, stated the deal reinforces their long-term commitment to these industries and ensures a steady supply of high-quality products for customers worldwide.
Hydrosulfites play a vital role in multiple sectors, acting as reducing agents in textiles and bleaching additives in pulp and paper production. Despite the sale, BASF will maintain its position as a leading supplier of other inorganic chemicals, such as alcoholates, sulfites, and nitrogen salts, all still produced in Ludwigshafen.
The acquisition expands Silox's global reach and secures its supply chain for hydrosulfite-based products. BASF, meanwhile, will focus on its remaining chemical operations in Ludwigshafen while continuing hydrosulfite production at its other international sites.
