The fire at BASF was successfully put out by their fire department at approximately 12.45pm CEST.
A statement from the chemical giant confirmed that the plant was closed down and is now safe.
BASF’s environmental monitoring vehicles found no traces of product residues inside or outside the plant, ensuring no air, water, or soil contamination.
Unfortunately, 15 employees sustained minor injuries and were treated at the BASF Medical Center. They have all been released after examination.
BASF is currently investigating the cause of the incident and has notified the relevant authorities.
Market uncertainty
Kemiex, a Swiss market intelligence firm, announced that due to lack of detailed impact analysis on the BASF incident, carotenoids and vitamin markets remain unstable and unpredictable.
Many suppliers have suspended quoting prices to assess the impact on supply security and pricing.
Historical context
In October 2017, a fire at BASF’s northern Citral facilities in Ludwigshafen resulted in a plant shutdown and a force majeure declaration for Citral and Isoprenol-based aroma products. This had a significant impact on markets for Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and related products.