BASF targets omega-3 market

BASF has announced that it will produce drug grade omega-3 at a new plant in Scotland from early next year in an attempt by the German chemical firm to tap into the $1.5 billion global market.

BASF bought Scottish EPA and DHA omega-3 products manufacturer Equateq in May and rebranded the firm as BASF Pharma Callanish.

“First of all the market is growing nicely and there is enough space for all of us. Today we see two major players in the market and the dominant player is Pronova. They created the market by having a technology in place to supply firms like GSK,” Ralf Fink, BASF’s spokesperson told in-Pharmatechnologist.com.

Fink added that the new plant in Callanish, Isle of Lewis would enable BASF to produce a variety of omega-3 products through a cost-efficient and patent protected manufacturing process.