Basell Polyolefins

Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefins products, the world's largest producer of polyethylene , and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes, and a leader in catalysts.

Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries. With research and development activities in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region, Basell is continuing a technological heritage that dates back to the beginning of the polyolefins industry.

Basell is highly focused on polyolefins and participate in the manufacturing and marketing of polyolefins and advanced polyolefins. The company is organized around three divisions: polyolefins,advanced polyolefins and technology. The polyoelfins division comprises manufacturing and marketing polyethylene and polypropylene. The advanced polyolefins division comprises manufacturing and marketing of PCMAs, customized polypropylene compounds, and other specialty products. The technology division comprises developing and licensing of process technologies for the production of polyolefins and the manufacturing and marketing of polyolefins catalyst. The company is integrated in crackers but is short in propylene.

Company History

Basell's heritage comes from many companies, including BASF, Hercules, Himont, Hoechst, ICI, Montecatini, Montedison and Royal Dutch Shell. However Basell, and then later LyondellBasell, had its origin in a joint venture between BASF and Royal Dutch Shell. Spurred on by the work of Nobel Prize-winning scientists Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, these Basell predecessor companies were among the leaders of the polyolefin revolution that began in the late 1930s and 1950s. This transformation is still driving the petrochemicals industry today. Basell has recently merged with the privately owned US company Lyondell Chemical Company to form LyondellBasell.