BASF has
expanded its
business in
industrial coatings
in the growth
market of Africa.
BASF’s Nils Lessmann Discusses
BASF’s Growth Strategy for Africa
by Shem Oirere
Africa Correspondent
In February BASF announced it is expand- ing its business in industrial coatings in the growth market of Africa. The company said
in a release it has, since October 2013, supplied coil coatings to Roofings Rolling Mills
(RRM), which is part of the Roofings Group,
East Africa’s largest steel producer.
Coatings World recently had the opportunity to interview Nils Lessmann, BASF business
manager precoatings EMEA region on BASF’s
expansion strategy in Africa and the opportunities available in this growing coatings market.
Coatings World: Please tell us briefly about the
new BASF venture in Uganda.
Nils Lessman: Since October 2013, we have
supplied coil coatings to Roofings Rolling Mills
(RRM) based on an in-plant small produc-
tion unit located in Uganda. This unit is served
from Vanderbijlpark site in South Africa. As the
leading supplier for industrial coatings in the
region, the Vanderbijlpark site in South Africa
has specialized in coil coatings.
CW: How will the entry of BASF into the
Ugandan market impact the company’s industrial coatings strategy in Africa?
Lessman: In general, BASF’s Coatings division
is shifting its focus even more on emerging and
attractive markets like Russia. Africa is important not only for the BASF strategy, but in particular for the growth plans of our industrial
coatings unit. The rise of African markets is a
result of population growth, urbanization and
increased consumer spending. We want to tap
into this market as it offers new long-term business potential. With RRM, we have succeeded
in gaining an important partner, which will
Nils Lessman
