Who Owns BASF?
BASF is the flagship brand of BASF SE, a publicly traded German chemical company headquartered in Ludwigshafen and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker BAS. Founded in 1865, BASF is the world's largest chemical producer by revenue, covering chemicals, materials, industrial solutions, nutrition, surface technologies, and agricultural solutions. For 2025 it reported sales of 59.7 billion euros and employed about 108,000 people.
Parent Company
Founded
1865
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns BASF?
- Parent Company: BASF SE
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: Frankfurt Stock Exchange: BAS
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| BASF | BASF SE | Brand division |
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History of BASF
- Founded: 1865
- Founders: Friedrich Engelhorn
Friedrich Engelhorn founded Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik in Mannheim in 1865 to produce coal-tar dyes. The company moved its main site across the Rhine to Ludwigshafen, which grew into one of the largest integrated chemical complexes in the world, the archetype of BASF's Verbund production concept.
Synthetic chemistry made it a giant. BASF developed the Haber-Bosch ammonia process for industrial fertilizer production in 1913, a landmark of industrial chemistry. In 1925 it merged into the I.G. Farben conglomerate, which was broken up after World War II for its role in the Nazi war economy, including forced labor at Auschwitz. BASF re-emerged as an independent company in 1952 and rebuilt as a diversified chemical group.
The modern portfolio assembled through decades of deals: Wintershall oil and gas, Engelhard catalysts, Ciba, Cognis, and Chemetall among them. The company sold its Wintershall Dea energy business to Harbour Energy in 2024 and, under CEO Markus Kamieth's Winning Ways strategy, agreed in 2025 to sell its coatings division to Carlyle, focusing the group on core chemical, materials, and agricultural businesses.
Recent years have been defined by the European energy crisis, which squeezed Ludwigshafen's gas-dependent economics, and by the new Verbund site in Zhanjiang, China, where the steam cracker started up in late 2025. Cost programs target more than 2.3 billion euros in annual savings from the end of 2026.
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About BASF SE
Is BASF publicly traded?
Yes. BASF SE trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker BAS and is a DAX component. U.S. investors use the OTC ticker BASFY.
Who owns BASF?
BASF is a public company owned by institutional investors and other shareholders, with no controlling owner. Markus Kamieth is chairman and CEO.
Where is BASF headquartered?
BASF is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, site of its largest Verbund complex. It was founded in nearby Mannheim in 1865.
What does BASF make?
BASF makes chemicals, plastics, engineering materials, catalysts, coatings (being divested), nutrition and care ingredients, and crop protection products. Its output is almost entirely inputs to other companies' goods.
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How much revenue does BASF make?
BASF reported fiscal 2025 sales of 59,657 million euros, EBITDA of 5.6 billion euros, and net income of 1.6 billion euros.
Why is BASF cutting jobs?
BASF is running a cost program targeting more than 2.3 billion euros in annual savings from the end of 2026 to restore competitiveness amid European energy costs and global chemical overcapacity. Thousands of positions are being cut, concentrated at Ludwigshafen.
- Founded: 1865
- Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: Frankfurt Stock Exchange: BAS
- Revenue: 59,657 million euros (FY2025)
- Employees: 108,251
Where Is BASF Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Manufacturing / Operations: Germany, Belgium, United States, China, Malaysia, Brazil, Various international locations
BASF Categories & Tags
BASF Sustainability & Ethics
BASF runs a comprehensive sustainability program with targets to cut operational emissions, expand circular and recycled products, and reach net-zero by 2050. It reports through CDP, publishes detailed ESG data in its annual report, and participates in responsible sourcing initiatives.
Its position is inherently mixed as the industry's largest producer: it is both a major emitter with hard-to-abate processes and a supplier of materials that enable efficiency downstream. Greenwashing criticism surfaces periodically around its plastics and fertilizer footprint.
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Awards & Recognition
BASF appears consistently on the Fortune Global 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and CDP rankings for climate and water disclosure. It is regularly named among Germany's most valuable corporate brands.
BASF Recalls & Controversies
BASF's darkest history is its role within I.G. Farben during the Nazi era, including forced labor at Auschwitz, a legacy the company has publicly acknowledged and addressed through remembrance and compensation initiatives.
Modern controversies include environmental incidents at Ludwigshafen and other sites, debates over PFAS and chemical safety regulation, criticism of pesticide products in agricultural markets, and the 2025 Ludwigshafen restructuring that cut thousands of jobs in its home region. As a chemical major it operates under continuous regulatory scrutiny on emissions, product safety, and plastic waste.
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BASF Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +World's largest chemical company by revenue with unmatched Verbund integration
- +Deep R&D and technical position across materials and agriculture
- +Portfolio pruning and cost programs targeting a more profitable core
- +Zhanjiang site provides long-term position in the largest chemicals market
Considerations
- -European energy costs and Asian overcapacity squeeze margins
- -Earnings remain well below pre-crisis levels
- -Large restructuring means significant job reductions in Germany
- -Chemical industry cyclicality and regulation are structural risks
Frequently Asked Questions About BASF
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to BASF
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dupont | USA | 1802 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: BASF competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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BASF SE Stock Information
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Jobs at BASF SE
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