In its continuing drive to provide Asian soybean rust solutions to US soybean growers, and as part of its strategy to build a sustainable soybean fungicide business, BASF has signed a supply agreement with Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Limited, Japan for metconazole fungicide. Once it clears the regulatory process and is registered by
the United States Environmental Protection Agency, metconazole will be a completely new active ingredient for US growers.

Metconazole is one of the strongest triazole fungicides for Asian soybean rust, and will be the perfect partner for Headline® fungicide. In the interim, BASF has agreed to support a Section 18 Emergency Use Exemption for a co-pack of metconazole and Headline.

According to Bill Wisdom, Group Vice President, North America, Agricultural Products, “This agreement continues the strong relationship between BASF and Kureha in the global fungicide market. We see Kureha being a long term strategic partner for BASF in this key market”.

Metconazole, although new to the US, is currently marketed in other parts of the world. BASF sells metconazole under the brand names Caramba® and Caramba Star® in Europe and South America for cereals and canola, has other crops pending approval.

“Access to this highly effective active ingredient in the US expands even further BASF’s portfolio of Asian soybean rust solutions for the US soybean grower”, says Andy Lee, Director of US Operations. “Soybean growers will have a premier Plant Health™ and disease control product to help them not only win the battle against rust, but also increase soybean yields. In addition, we remain committed to providing our customers not just innovative products, but timely, objective information. An example of this is our Web site, SoybeanRustInfo.com, which has become a valuable resource for helping the US agricultural industry prepare for the advent of Asian soybean rust.”

With sales of €3,176 million in 2003, BASF’s Agricultural Products division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and
herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve yields and quality of agricultural crops. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Agricultural Products division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agproducts.basf.com. For information on Asian soybean rust, please visit www.SoybeanRustInfo.com.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Our goal is to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company. We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. BASF’s portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities. We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN).

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Caramba, Caramba Star, and Headline are registered trademarks and Plant Health is a trademark of BASF.
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