BASF to boost European supply of semiconductor chemicals with new NH4OH plant
BASF has announced plans to build a new NH4OH plant at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany, aimed at reinforcing the semiconductor materials supply chain in Europe. The ammonium hydroxide facility will produce ultra-pure chemicals used in wafer cleaning, etching and other steps in advanced chip manufacturing, with operations expected to start in 2027.
For eeNews Europe readers, this development highlights a rising focus on chemical supply resilience as Europe expands its semiconductor production capacity.
Strengthening local supply for advanced nodes
As Europe pushes to expand chip manufacturing, demand for high-purity process chemicals is rising sharply. Several new fabs and expansions are underway across the region, increasing pressure on material sourcing. Electronic-grade ammonium hydroxide is one of the essential bulk chemicals used in front-end semiconductor processing, where impurity thresholds are extremely tight.
BASF says the investment is tied to long-term strategic partnerships, including a close cooperation with a customer currently building a new chip facility in Europe. The company frames this move as part of a broader push to ensure supply chain resilience and technological competitiveness across industries such as automotive, AI computing and industrial electronics.
Long-term commitment to Europe’s chip ecosystem
“We are thankful and proud of our customers’ trust in BASF to be a long-term strategic partner in their growth ambition in the region.” said Jens Liebermann, Senior Vice President, Electronic Materials at BASF.
Gops Pillay, President, Global Operating Division at BASF, added: “This new investment not only further enhances our capabilities but also reinforces our commitment and our presence to supporting the semiconductor industry in Europe.”
BASF is a long-established supplier of semiconductor process chemicals, offering materials for cleaning, etching, photo processes, metal deposition and CMP applications. The company states that the new Ludwigshafen plant will play a key role in supporting Europe’s push to build out advanced chip manufacturing capacity while contributing to the local economy and innovation ecosystem.
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