BASF's WorldAccount Drives $1 Billion, 13 Percent of North American Sales 24/7 E-Commerce Convenience Gives Customers Easy Order Entry, Change, Support FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Month after month, more and more of BASF's North American customers are seeing the benefits of using WorldAccount, the company's self-service Internet portal. Statistics show that transaction volume and usage of BASF's WorldAccount are increasing rapidly. As of the end of October, WorldAccount represented 13 percent of BASF's sales in North America by dollar volume, as compared to 8 percent for the same period last year. WorldAccount represented 9 percent of sales at the end of 2003. Registered users have grown in 2004 to almost 3,000 and with continued increases in usage and growth in transaction volume, the company estimates that WorldAccount will represent approximately 15 percent of North American sales by year-end 2004. Launched in October 2001, WorldAccount is BASF's global on-line, e-commerce vehicle, providing customers a homogeneous and integrated purchasing platform based on state-of-the-art technology. The system's 24/7 capabilities offer customers the convenience of around-the-clock information regarding their orders, as well as the ability to enhance efficiency by making changes to orders online, view and track order status, view and print product information and share documents with BASF sales and marketing groups if needed. A recent customer survey conducted by Burke Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, indicated that 90 percent of BASF's WorldAccount customers indicated that they were "always satisfied" with their on-line experience at BASF's WorldAccount site. WorldAccount offers BASF customers a wealth of information and functionality, and is available in 11 languages. WorldAccount provides customers with a broad range of options, including * Order Entry (repeat and template orders) * Order Status, Order Change and Cancellation -- Shipment history -- Shipment tracking * Product Catalog * Technical Information * Material Safety Data Sheets * Certificates of Analysis * Reporting * Contacts and Support * Electronic Invoice payment and presentment * Document sharing "WorldAccount's growth in North America can be attributed to its simple operations and dedicated technical assistance that provide convenient and efficient day-to-day transactions," said Gary Brown, Director, E-Commerce for BASF in North America. "In addition, customers can be assured that every transaction on WorldAccount is secure and encrypted using firewall technology." In addition to WorldAccount, BASF's e-commerce portfolio also includes the Elemica hub and EDI capability. In total, these three e-commerce venues account for 23 percent of BASF's North American sales in dollar volume in 2004 to date. North America accounts for approximately 27 percent of BASF's e-commerce sales worldwide. Customers can obtain training materials and simulations at http://www.ecommaid.basf-corp.com/. Or, for more information, call Gayle Kiniery at (973) 426-4680. The WorldAccount portal is located at http://www.worldaccount.basf.com/. BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.(R) BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. We employ about 11,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $9 billion in 2003. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit http://www.basf.com/usa. 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. In 2003, BASF had sales of approximately $42 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at http://www.basf.com/. DATASOURCE: BASF CONTACT: Jack Maurer of BASF, +1-973-245-6072, Web site: http://www.basf.com/usa http://www.worldaccount.basf.com/ http://www.ecommaid.basf-corp.com/

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