BASF Hands Off Mining Unit to SNF While $1 Billion MDI Train Starts in Louisiana
Published on 11/15/2026 at 17:23 | Editorial boerse-global.de
BASF has signed an agreement to sell its global mining business to SNF, the company announced Thursday. The transaction is expected to close in 2027, subject to merger control clearance and customary closing conditions. Roughly 140 employees and the Cork production site in Ireland are part of the divested operation. BASF did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
The disposal landed two days after the chemicals group officially commissioned a new MDI production plant at its Geismar integrated site in Louisiana. The total investment comes to around USD 1 billion, lifting annual MDI capacity at the location to roughly 600,000 tonnes.
Jefferies Goes Negative on Lingering Sector Weakness
On the same Wednesday as the Geismar start-up, Jefferies downgraded BASF from "Hold" to "Underperform" while keeping its price target at EUR 44. Analyst Priyanka Patel pointed to shrinking margins, persistent chemical overcapacity and weak spreads, with higher European gas prices and a missing demand recovery adding to the drag. For 2027, the brokerage expects operating profit to come in 5 percent below consensus.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying BASF?
The stock closed Friday at EUR 54.33, well above Jefferies' target.
Renewable Power for Polyisobutene Range
BASF also used the week to flag a shift in its European polyisobutene portfolio. From January 2027, Oppanol B and Glissopal supplied to external customers are to be produced entirely with electricity from renewable sources, the company said Tuesday. Product specifications and article numbers will stay unchanged.
Buyback Continues
Under its share buyback programme, BASF repurchased around 352,000 of its own shares between November 2 and November 6 inclusive, the company reported on November 9.
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BASF Stock: New Analysis - 15 November
Fresh BASF information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
