BASF in Japan - BASF Asia Pacific

BASF in Japan
Report 2010
A Message from the President of BASF in Japan
03
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF
BASF IN JAPAN
Dear Stakeholders
2010 was a record year for BASF. In Japan, we also enjoyed a
robust year with growth fueled by synergies achieved through
acquisition and increased sales in existing businesses. This was
thanks to the strong support from our business partners, from
our employees and from the community. I would therefore like
to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude and
appreciation.
Since the 1990s, BASF in Japan has continued to focus on its
core businesses to secure its position as a leading global
chemical company. Over the past five years, six BASF
companies have come together as BASF Japan Ltd., most
recently with the integration in March 2010 of Ciba Japan K.K.
and Musashino-Geigy Co., Ltd. in October 2010.
Under BASF’s Asia Pacific Strategy 2020, the company has
established customer target groups and industry target groups,
through which we aim to provide each customer company or
industry with the full range of BASF solutions and expertise from
a single point of contact. In line with this strategy, in 2010 BASF
in Japan reorganized its structure to better serve customer
industries including automotive, construction, paint & coatings,
pharmaceutical, and packaging.
2010 was a milestone year for another reason: the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry was awarded to Akira Suzuki and Ei-ichi Negishi.
Both gentlemen were recognized for their achievements in
palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis. BASF
has a keen interest and strong relationship with this field. For
example, Boscalid (BASF product name: Cantus), a fungicide
Tomoyoshi Naruo
Representative Director & President
BASF Japan Ltd.
applied to various types of vegetables, beans and fruits, was
developed using Dr. Suzuki’s organic synthesis reaction. This
award from the Nobel Foundation has again brought firmly to
the attention of the world the value both of chemistry and
Japan’s capabilities and is an event of immense joy and pride.
As the world’s leading chemical company, BASF is committed
to securing a prominent position in the fields of innovation and
development. We are making every effort to ensure that we are
providing the most advanced solutions and high value-added
products.
WE EARN A PREMIUM
ON OUR COST OF CAPITAL
The prerequisite for long-term success is earning a
premium on our cost of capital. Earnings before interest
and taxes (EBIT) after cost of capital is our key
performance and management indicator.
WE HELP OUR CUSTOMERS
TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
We want to recognize what our customers will need
tomorrow. As a reliable partner, we work with customers
to develop solutions that will meet their individual needs
and strengthen their competitiveness. To do this, we
operate where our customers are - in all the world’s
important markets.