Crop Protection pipeline value jumps to € 2.4 billion

The value of the BASF Crop Protection pipeline jumped to €2.4 billion, an increase of €200 million compared to 2010. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) March 14, 2011 - The company’s next blockbuster fungicide, Xemium® contributed to this increase. With peak sales potential estimated in excess of €200 million, Xemium will be available in more than 100 crops from 2012 onwards. Farm demand for the company’s blockbuster herbicide Kixor® also exceeded expectations: In North America, Kixor was the most successful herbicide launch in the last 20 years, with a projected peak sales potential of more than €200 million. In addition, BASF is on track to reach peak sales of €700 million with F 500®, the cornerstone of the company’s AgCelence® portfolio.

“Today, we have one of the strongest pipelines in the industry. With our high investment in research and development, we aim to sustain our role as a leading innovator,” said Markus Heldt, President of the Crop Protection division. “Our herbicide Kixor had a tremendously successful market introduction, and Xemium will be our next blockbuster fungicide. We expect to launch it in 2012.” he added.

BASF is highly committed to research and development. In the past eight years, the company has increased the share of sales from new active ingredients from 6% to 30%. Moreover, in 2010 BASF reached approximately 70% of the projected peak sales potential from active ingredients launched since 2002. As a further sign of the commitment to innovation, in 2010 investments in R&D increased to €393 million - the equivalent of about 10% of the BASF Crop Protection total sales.

A number of highlights follow:

Xemium®

Xemium is the company’s next-generation carboxamide and a perfect extension and complement to our strong fungicide portfolio. As a pioneer in this product class, BASF has gathered years of knowledge and is proud to launch a new carboxamide that can be used across all fungicide market segments, including major field crops (cereals, corn and soybeans) and fruits & vegetables.

The data submission process is underway and regulatory approval is expected in time for 2012 market launch. Xemium will be a global active ingredient, with gradual introduction in more than 50 countries and for more than 100 crops. The company is optimistic that Xemium will play out its blockbuster potential and generate peak sales in excess of €200 million. Because of its broad spectrum of controlled pathogens, Xemium will also be used as a seed treatment, contributing to the company’s fast-growing seed treatment portfolio.

Initium®

Initium is BASF’s new fungicide for the dynamically growing business in specialty crops, which includes grapes, potatoes, and vegetables. Initium is a highly selective and effective fungicide for the prevention of potato late blight and downy mildew in table grapes and various vegetable crops . Moreover, Initium’s favourable regulatory profile offers significant advantages for growers: BASF is an innovative food chain partner for quality segments in specialty crops. In 2011, Initium will be launched in some European markets, such as Germany, the U.K., and France.

Kixor ®

BASF’s blockbuster herbicide Kixor was successfully launched in the North and Latin American markets in 2010. Highly effective against tough to control broadleaf weeds in a wide range of crops, Kixor offers fast burndown and residual soil activity for clean fields and higher yields.

With the spread of weed resistance, the herbicide market is projected to reach €20 billion by 2020. With Kixor, BASF is poised to participate in this market growth. Kixor holds a pivotal role in combating the increasing number of weeds that have become resistant to the active ingredient glyphosate. It is approved for use in over 30 crops, including corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, cereals, cotton, pulses, citrus, and sunflowers (desiccation), to name a few.

AgCelence®

The fungicide active ingredient F 500 is the cornerstone of BASF’s AgCelence portfolio. AgCelence products proactively improve plant health, delivering benefits beyond disease control. Crops treated with F 500-based products show better stress tolerance, better growth performance and plant strength. Depending on the crops, yields are boosted up to 10%.

In 2011, BASF will continue to launch products from its AgCelence portfolio in Europe, Asia, and South Africa. Thanks to its valuable use across crops and countries, the peak sales potential of €700 million for F 500 is well on track.

About the Crop Protection division

With sales of 4.0 billion in 2010, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/basfagro

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in its Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.

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