FRANKFURT, Dec 20 (Reuters) - BASF on Wednesday appointed company veteran Markus Kamieth to become CEO next year, as the chemicals giant grapples with falling earnings and sluggish economic growth in its European home markets.

The German company said in a statement that Kamieth would in in April replace CEO Martin Brudermueller, who was previously appointed to become non-executive chairman of carmaker Mercedes Benz .

Chief technology officer Melanie Maas-Brunner would not renew her current contract beyond Jan. 31, BASF said, adding she had the wish, "developed over a longer period of time, to pursue new professional challenges."

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Patricia Weiss)