Chemical giant BASF said on Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s Sinopec Corp to build a steam cracker in east China, the second major investment pledged by the German firm in four months. China, the world’s top chemicals consumer, is allowing greater access by global majors and local independents to its massive chemicals market to feed plastics, coatings and adhesives to the fast-growing consumer electronics and automotive sectors, as well as polyesters for clothing.