9 – Minority interests

Compared with the same period of 2016, higher minority interests in profits in the first half of 2017 particularly arose at Shanghai BASF Polyurethane Company Ltd., Shanghai, China, due to increased TDI and MDI sales prices and margins. The higher level was also attributable to BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LLC in Port Arthur, Texas, mostly because of higher capacity utilization of the steam cracker and the temporary use of the condensate splitter.

Minority interests in losses matched the level of the previous first half. In the first half of 2017, these mainly pertained to BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Sdn. Bhd., based in Shah Alam, Malaysia, due to startup costs in connection with the construction of an aroma ingredients complex.