After a late July fire shut down BASF’s Ludwigshafen, Germany-based production plant where the company produced vitamins A and E precursors, carotenoids, and aroma products, the company announced that it doesn’t expect the production of nutraceutical products to begin again until Jan. 2025.
 
Earlier this month, the company issued a force majeure declaration, to free BASF and its customers from their respective contractual obligations.
 
The company has begun to share the volumes of product customers can expect to receive from its inventory, which “will be allocated in a fair and reasonable manner in accordance with applicable law,” BASF stated.
 
While the company notes that its timeline estimates are subject to change, it expects the production of affected aroma ingredients to begin first, but not likely until October 2024 for some select aroma ingredients, and November 2024 for all aroma ingredients. The company presently assumes that vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid products won’t begin until January 2025.
 
“Thereafter, it will require at least several months to ensure ‘business as usual’ which includes replenishments of global, regional, and local inventory levels which is necessary to ensure business as usual,” BASF stated.