BASF opens first plant in Sri Lanka to meet demand for construction chemicals

Germany’s BASF has opened its first production plant in Sri Lanka which will produce standard and custom-made performance-based construction chemicals under the Master Builders Solutions brand.

These include concrete admixtures product ranges such as MasterGlenium, MasterPolyheed, MasterRheobuild and MasterPozzolith. The new plant will allow BASF to better meet the increasing demand for construction chemicals to customers in Sri Lanka. The site is supported by an office, warehouse and a well- equipped testing lab that will deliver tailor- made recipes through formulation excellence, the company said in a media statement.

“Asia Pacific is one of the fastest growing markets globally, and South Asia is a strategic growth engine of this market. With the new admixture plant in Colombo, we will now be able to rapidly supply our customers with admixtures for all cement and aggregate types, whether their construction projects are located in the capital or in remote areas,” said Himanshu Kapadia, Vice President, Market Management, Construction Chemicals Asia Pacific, BASF, at the inauguration of the new plant on August 19.

Aruna Deepthikumara, Chief Executive Officer, BASF Lanka ( Pvt.) Ltd., said, “Sri Lanka’s construction industry is witnessing an upward swing, and is today one of the significant contributors to the country’s GDP. This growth is creating a demand for high performance concrete admixtures, which BASF is well positioned to address as a leader in the field. The construction chemicals plant in Colombo will supply admixtures in a timely fashion to all parts of the country.”

The production plant is located in the Lindel Estate at Sapugaskande which is well connected with the road network and located close to the harbor, making it easy to receive raw materials as well as deliver to customers across the country. The new production site represents a further step in bringing the Master Builders Solutions brand to customers around the world, the release said.

BASF has been actively providing construction chemicals to the South Asia markets for more than 20 years. Other production sites in South Asia are located in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.