German chemicals supplier BASF has secured a new supply agreement for adipodinitrile (ADN) under which BASF will purchase the raw material from the global network of US-based integrated fibres and polymers company Invista.

Supply from Invista will commence at the start of 2009 and, once a reliable delivery has been established, BASF aims to close and dismantle its ADN plant in Seals Sands, UK.

Commenting on the agreement, Harald Lauke, president of BASF Performance Polymers Division, said, “This decision is necessary to ensure a more cost-competitive supply of ADN in the future.” He added, “We expect that approximately 30 BASF employees will be affected by the proposed plant closure. We will evaluate the impact on service providers supporting the plant and discuss this with the companies involved.”

ADN is used as a raw material to produce hexamethylenediamine (HMD), a key intermediate for BASF’s Ultramid A (Polyamide 6.6).