BASF
Profile
BASF is the world's largest producer of chemicals.* Founded in 1865 by Friedrich Englehorn and headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the company mainly sells industrial grade chemicals to the automotive, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. In 1925, BASF led a merger with five other companies (including Bayer and Hoechst) to create I.G. Farbenindustrie AG which manufactured chemicals and weapons for the Nazi war effort during World War II. Its most infamous product was Zyklon B, which was used by the Nazis to kill millions in the gas chambers. After the war, IG Farben was broken up and BASF was reconstituted.
Chemicals, plastics, performance chemicals, catalysts, coatings, crop technology, crude oil and natural gas exploration and production
Violations
| Top 5 Offense Groups (Groups Defined) | Penalty Total | Number of Records |
|---|---|---|
| environment-related offenses | $88,497,809 | 143 |
| competition-related offenses | $83,122,167 | 3 |
| safety-related offenses | $830,288 | 85 |
| employment-related offenses | $805,916 | 5 |
| consumer-protection-related offenses | $416,000 | 1 |
(September 29, 2022)
Stories
Activism
BASF workers protest in India
IndustriALL | May 31, 2017
BASF, one of the world’s biggest chemical companies, has adopted a code of conduct binding all employees of the BASF group worldwide. It incorporates globally applicable standards of conduct including human rights, and labour and social standards, which govern BASF’s dealings with employees and other stakeholders.
Fierce union protests over German companies' plans to cut sick pay spread to the chemical sector on Wednesday as 10,000 workers walked off the job at chemical giant BASF AG.
Business Standard | February 9, 2013
Fierce union protests over German companies' plans to cut sick pay spread to the chemical sector on Wednesday as 10,000 workers walked off the job at chemical giant BASF AG.
- A Community Voice
- Alliance for Affordable Energy
- Climate Reality New Orleans
- Coalition Against Death Alley
- Healthy Gulf
- Justice and Beyond
- Louisiana Bucket Brigade
- Louisiana League of Conscious Voters
- New Orleans Office Sierra Club
- Poor Peoples Campaign
- SouthWings
- Sunrise Movement, New Orleans
- RISE St. James
- 350 New Orleans
& Lawsuits
Bayer, BASF Face Another Lawsuit Over Crop Supply Chain Deals
Claire Hao | Bloomberg Law | May 28, 2021
Bayer AG, Corteva Inc., BASF Corp. and Syngenta Corp. are facing another antitrust lawsuit alleging the large agricultural product manufacturers colluded to prevent electronic sales platforms from disrupting their market dominance and lucrative supply chain.
BASF and Cahill settle talc scandal for US$72.5 million
Georgina Caldwell | Global Cosmetics News | July 27, 2020
BASF and law firm Cahill, Gordon & Reindel have agreed to a joint settlement of US$72.5 million to end claims that they concealed evidence of talc products containing asbestos, according to a report published by Bloomberg.
Missouri farm awarded $265M in dicamba weedkiller suit against BASF and Bayer
Associated Press | Boston Herald | February 16, 2020
A jury over the weekend awarded $265 million in punitive damages to a southeastern Missouri peach farmer who argued that weedkiller dicamba that had drifted onto his orchards from other farms had severely damaged his trees — an award that could bode well for other farmers suing the chemical’s makers.
Environmental Impact
Concerns raised over BASF allegedly releasing contaminated water into Detroit River
Jim Kasuba | News-Herald | July 8, 2022
A congresswoman is raising concerns about BASF Corp. allegedly releasing contaminated water into the Detroit River, potentially affecting Wyandotte residents’ drinking water.
BASF Accused of Dumping PFAS in River
Axel Barret | BioPlastics News | June 14, 2021
There was a discussion between Green MP Mieke Schauvliege and Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) regarding the recent PFAS scandal in Belgium.
BASF to close Germany-based plant after chemical leak
Louise Prance-Miles | Global Cosmetics News | October 15, 2020
German chemicals company BASF is set to close its Ludwigshafen-based imidazole plant after it discovered that a small amount of the material had leaked into nearby River Rhine, according to a report by Reuters.
Two Tons of Antifreeze Chemical Leak into Rhine
Associated Press | November 28, 1986
The BASF chemical factory accidentally leaked two tons of a toxic antifreeze component into the Rhine River Friday, officials said. It was the seventh major chemical spill into the Rhine in a month.
PERI Pollution Indexes
Based on United States Environmental Protection Agency data ranking the top 100 worst polluters.
& Relations
After a deadly leak at BASF, the workers were blamed despite disputes over safety warnings
David Mitchell | The Advocate | July 18, 2022
Something told Elvin Porter to turn back and take a quick look at his coworker, Dexter Armstead, on a catwalk inside the huge BASF complex in Geismar before Porter headed down the stairs for the breathing equipment.
2 contractors possibly exposed to substance at BASF in Geismar, treated at plant, taken to hospital
Ellyn Couvillion | The Advocate | October 15, 2021
Two contractors were "potentially exposed" to a substance at the BASF plant in Geismar Friday while working outdoors and were treated at the chemical plant by first responders, then transported to the hospital for further treatment, a plant spokesman said.
BASF workers on strike because of dispute over back pay
Joseph Chiruma | Ground Up | August 12, 2016
Workers at BASF’s chemical manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth are striking over non-payment of an annual salary increase. Workers are demanding back pay as per what they claim is an earlier agreement with the company.
BASF Corporation to Pay $500,000 to Settle EEOC Retaliation Lawsuit Against Cognis
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | January 31, 2013
BASF Corporation will pay $500,000 to settle a retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Cognis Corporation, the EEOC announced today. BASF acquired Cognis in 2010.
Financials
Note: Most recent list is not always the most complete list.
Croctail Subsidiary Tool using the CorpWatch API - This API extracts the subsidiary relationship information from Exhibit 21 of companies' 10-K filings with the US SEC.
- CIK numbers link to SEC database (EDGAR)
- Section 21 links to SEC list of companies.
- BASF Croctail Profile
Click here for the latest data.
Political Influence
Open Secrets - Tracks corporate lobbying of US politicians.
OpenSecrets.org Profile of BASF
Import & Export Data
ImportYeti - Shipping Tracking Tool - Bill of ladings are public information that are too cost prohibitive, challenging to obtain and difficult to use for the average joe. ImportYeti's goal is to solve that problem.
- ImportYeti Profile of BASF (USA), BASF (Germany)
& Evasion
BASF and corporate tax avoidance: Can we fix it? Yes, we can!
European Greens | 2016
As a report published yesterday by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament discloses, the German chemicals company BASF has used aggressive tax planning strategies to avoid paying 923m Euro between 2010 and 2014.
BASF in firing line for legal, but immoral tax deals
DW | November 7, 2016
German chemicals giant BASF has applied aggressive tax strategies to avoid paying hundreds of millions of euros in taxes, a fresh report has said. The company resorted to a variety of instruments to get its way.
New research shows chemical giant BASF uses toxic tax tricks to avoid €923 million in tax
Catherine Olier | The Greens / EFA | November 7, 2016
Toxic Tax Deals a chemical giant abusing their powers... It might sound like the plot to a trashy old movie, found in the bargain bin on an old VHS.
BASF investing $78M in Louisiana expansion
Plastics News | April 15, 2019
BASF SE will proceed with the second phase of its production expansion for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) at its Geismar chemical complex.
BASF Expands Geismar, Louisiana, Chemical Complex
Baton Rouge Area Chamber | January 31, 2018
BASF will invest in the development of its methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, or MDI, capacity at its Louisiana chemical complex in Geismar, Louisiana.
BASF Announces $42.6 Million Investment In New Polyurethanes Blending Facility
Ascension EDC | September 12, 2013
Today, Gov. Bobby Jindal and BASF Geismar Senior Vice President Tom Yura announced the company’s plans for a fourth major expansion in Louisiana – a new $42.6 million polyurethanes blending facility in Geismar.
Procurement
BASF contracts with the U.S. Federal Government (via USA Spending)