LAS VEGAS, January 20, 2004 -- BASF's exhibit in the 2004 International Builders' Show, being held January 19-22, will feature tangible examples of how the company is "Helping Make Products Better"(TM) in the housing and construction market.

Located at booth #S7570 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the BASF display will showcase commercial applications for its insulating foams (spray polyurethane foam, rigid polyurethane foam and foam
from expandable polystyrene), coatings for metal roofing and other end uses, and weatherable copolymer thermoplastics.

"Building and construction professionals seeking high-quality materials
solutions for their projects should consider BASF as a partner of choice,"
said Gary De Santis, Senior Corporate Architect for BASF's Sales and
Marketing Creativity Center. "We assist architects, engineers, builders,
contractors and other professionals in the housing and construction
industry with a comprehensive scope of unique capabilities, technical
expertise and innovative solutions. Our full range of products includes
chemicals, plastics, coatings and adhesive raw materials."

De Santis said the housing and construction industry is a key market for
BASF, representing 5 to 10 percent of the company's worldwide sales of $34
billion in 2002.

Of particular importance on display at BASF's International Builders' Show
exhibit are:

·     ULTRA-Cool(R) heat reflective coatings for residential and commercial
roofs, which help building owners save energy and money, and help protect
the environment in a full spectrum of colors. These coatings come with a
non-prorated, 30-year warranty that covers gloss, color retention and film
integrity. Other applications include siding and commercial metal building
construction.

·     Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) used for insulation to create an
insulating air barrier that improves comfort, energy efficiency and
structural life expectancy. This technology delivers a unique combination
of properties to a highly functional building envelope, which is important
since research shows that 30 to 50 percent of building heat loss can be
attributed to air leakage in and out of the building.

·     Styropor(R) expandable polystyrene (EPS) used for insulation. Recent
studies have confirmed the ecological benefits to using EPS for thermal
insulation applications, such as wall panels.

·     Rigid Urethane Foam. BASF's Lupranate(R) diphenylmethane diisocyanate
product is used to manufacture polyisocyanurate foam for insulation in
commercial roofing and residential sheathing. BASF's isocyanate products
are also used as binders to produce engineered wood, oriented-strand board
and long-strand lumber products. In this application, the isocyanate binder
provides improved wood strength and production efficiency.

·     Luran(R) S ASA weatherable thermoplastics materials used for siding,
cladding and exterior trim, as well as a cap layer over other plastics to
offer advanced performance attributes in building materials.



BASF: Helping Make Products Better(TM)
BASF is the world's leading chemical company, offering its customers a
range of high-performance products, including chemicals, plastics,
performance products, agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as
crude oil and natural gas. Its distinctive approach to integration, known
in German as "Verbund," is its strength. It enables BASF to achieve cost
leadership and gives the company a competitive advantage. BASF conducts its
business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In
2002, BASF had sales of $34 billion and more than 89,000 employees
worldwide. BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF AG,
Ludwigshafen, Germany. In North America, 2002 sales were approximately $8.2
billion and the company employs approximately 12,000 people. For more
information or to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

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