BASF Becomes First Global Chemical Company to Achieve Level One B-BBEE Status in South Africa

BASF marks historic milestone as the first non-South African multinational chemical company to attain Level 1 B-BBEE status, championing transformation through black women ownership, skills development, and supplier empowerment 

• Driving Economic Inclusion: 30% Black women ownership through the BASF South Africa Trust, supporting over 60 female students in STEM fields nationwide.
• Equipping Previously Disadvantaged South Africans: Providing interns with hands-on experience at its production sites and support for students with disabilities to help them thrive in chemistry, science, and engineering.
• Creating Shared Value: Robust supplier development initiatives grow black- and women-owned businesses for a diverse, resilient value chain.

 Johannesburg, 1 December 2025 – BASF in South Africa proudly announces its achievement of a Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) rating, marking a historic milestone as the first non-South African multinational chemical company to attain this top status. This accomplishment underscores BASF’s unwavering commitment to meaningful transformation, inclusive economic inclusion, and responsible corporate citizenship, creating shared value for South Africa’s future.

“Achieving Level 1 B-BBEE status is a proud moment for BASF South Africa and far more than a compliance milestone. It reflects our deep commitment to transformation and responsible corporate citizenship,” said Wojciech Kulma, Managing Director, BASF South Africa. “Through investment in people, empowerment of local suppliers, advancement of opportunities for women, and community development, we are shaping an inclusive and sustainable future that drives progress. This is how we create shared value and lasting impact for generations to come.”

BASF’s transformation journey: Empowering people, suppliers, and communities.

BASF is committed to developing future talent through targeted skills initiatives, including bursaries, technical training, leadership programmes, and a comprehensive graduate programme that equips young South Africans for careers in science and engineering. For the 2025/26 cycle, 15 graduates are enrolled in our programme, alongside 12 learners with disabilities, seven interns at production sites, and 11 apprentices, including bursary recipients who are children of employees.

Additionally, the BASF South Africa Trust provides bursaries to black female students in chemistry, engineering, and sciences, advancing gender equity in STEM and creating opportunities for talented individuals from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Currently, the trust supports more than 60 Black female students at institutions of higher learning across South Africa.

BASF’s enterprise and supplier development strategy is designed to strengthen black-owned and women-owned businesses through targeted training, technical support, and access to procurement opportunities. By building resilient and competitive partners, we drive inclusive growth and actively contribute to South Africa’s economic transformation. Importantly, our customers also benefit from enhanced B-BBEE recognition, with 135% of their procurement spend with BASF counting toward their B-BBEE scorecard.

As a responsible corporate citizen, BASF invests in initiatives that expand access to education, strengthen science literacy, empower youth, and promote environmental stewardship. We actively partner with local organizations to create meaningful change through STEM education, food security projects, and volunteer-driven community upliftment. These efforts create opportunities, foster innovation, and deliver long-term social impact, reflecting BASF’s mission to create chemistry for a sustainable future by combining economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility.

A Continuous Commitment to Transformation

Our aspiration to become a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor has been years in the making. From our first B-BBEE audit verification in 2009 to implementing 30% black women ownership in 2017, this achievement reflects a long-standing journey of purposeful action,” said Pfarelo Mutwanamba, Head of Finance, Tax and Controlling – Africa and Chair of the B-BBEE Committee. “While this Level 1 rating is a proud milestone, it also reinforces the responsibility we carry. We remain committed to building an inclusive supply chain, equipping young people with critical skills, uplifting communities, and driving sustainable transformation that delivers measurable impact across our business and society.”

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

Media Enquiries:

Unity Kgongoana

Head of Corporate Communications, South Africa

Mobile: +27 63 684 3648, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Captions:

Photo:  BASF in South Africa – Level 1 B-BBEE

BASF in South Africa celebrates a historic milestone as the first non-South African multinational chemical company to achieve Level 1 B-BBEE status, driving transformation through 30% Black women ownership, skills development, and supplier empowerment for an inclusive, sustainable future.

Photo: Pfarelo Mutwanamba - BASF

Pfarelo Mutwanamba, Head of Finance, Tax & Controlling – Africa and Chair of BASF’s B-BBEE Committee who leads BASF’s efforts to build an inclusive supply chain, empower communities, and drive sustainable transformation.