BASF
One of the world’s largest chemical companies, built on the Rhine.
52-week range
As of 5 Oct 2026, 17:35What does BASF do?
BASF makes the basic materials other companies use to build almost everything: plastics, insulation, vitamins, detergent ingredients, crop protection and materials for car catalysts. Its heart is the huge site in Ludwigshafen, where many plants are tightly linked. This setup, called the Verbund, saves energy and cost.
You rarely see BASF directly, but its materials are in mattresses, sneaker soles, car parts and home insulation.
How BASF makes money
- Specialty ingredients for industry, food & care25 %
- Plastics & materials21 %
- Basic chemicals17 %
- Seeds & crop protection16 %
- Battery & catalyst materials15 %
- Other5 %
Strengths
- Very broad customer base: BASF supplies almost every industry, from cars to farming.
- Its Verbund of tightly linked plants is efficient and hard to copy.
- The agriculture business with seeds and crop protection is profitable and steadier.
Risks
- High energy and gas prices in Germany weigh heavily on its large plants.
- Chemical demand moves with the economy, and sales dipped slightly in 2025.
- Cheap competition from China puts pressure on prices for basic chemicals.
- Founded
- 1865
- Headquarters
- Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Employees
- about 108,000
What if you had invested in BASF earlier?
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This page explains the company and is not a recommendation to buy or sell.