BASF Middle East and Astra Polymers reinforce cooperation

BASF Plastic Additives Middle East and Astra Polymers have signed a new contract that will see the two companies continue to work together to produce Customer SpecificBlends (CSB) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This cooperative agreement combines the expertise of the two companies, bringing two complementary form-giving technologies for additive blends to customers in the region.

Astra Polymers has for several years operated BASF-owned production lines at its Dammam premises, producing CSB. Astra Polymers' breadth of experience in the field of Masterbatch and Compounding add considerable value, enhancing BASF's production capacities in the Middle East. BASF Plastic Additives Middle East markets and sells the CSB.   

According to Frank Fasdernes, Director Business Management Plastic Additives for Africa, Eastern Europe, Western Asia: "Astra Polymers has proven its capabilities as a partner to BASF in the production of CSB. Its strong commitment to quality and growth supports the positioning of BASF as a market leader for CSB in the Middle East. With the launch of our production facility in Bahrain in quarter 4 of 2012, we will continue to cooperate with Astra Polymers as our partner in KSA to produce CSB."

Bandar N. Al-Saqer, CEO Astra Polymers said: "The success of both companies in the growing plastics industry in the Middle East is proof that our cooperative agreement is well founded, adding value to both our companies and the industry. Astra Polymers is highly committed to the development of the downstream market.  As market leaders, our combined efforts make the promise of flexibility, quality and innovation tangible to our customers."

At a ceremony in Dammam earlier this month Astra Polymers, BASF Plastic Additives Middle East and BASF Switzerland AG signed a long term contract to extend their existing production cooperation agreement in the field of plastic additives.