BASF has signed an agreement to sell its mining solutions business to SNF, a privately held specialty chemical company based in Andrezieux-Boutheon, France, the companies announced on November 12. The divestment follows a comprehensive strategic review within BASF’s Performance Chemicals division.
The transaction covers the global mining solutions business, including the production site in Cork, Ireland, and approximately 140 employees. The portfolio spans leaching and flotation reagents and solvent extraction reagents, including the Luprofroth, Lupromin, Luproset, LIX and LixTRA brands. The LIX range is a standard reagent family in copper solvent extraction and electrowinning circuits, which makes this a working part of the copper supply chain rather than a peripheral chemicals line.
SNF is the world’s leading manufacturer of water soluble polymers and already supplies flocculants and water treatment chemistry to miners. It said the BASF portfolio would complement its existing range and strengthen its position in flotation and hydrometallurgy, giving it a broader single supplier chemistry package for concentrator and hydrometallurgical plants.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial terms. Closing is expected in 2027, subject to approval by the relevant merger control authorities and customary closing conditions. Until then, supply arrangements for operating mines are unchanged, and the regulatory review is the gating item.