BASF Launches Specialty Plastic Project in China, Focusing on Automation and Electric Vehicles

The global chemical giant BASF announced that its flame-retardant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) at its Shanghai plant has started commercial-scale production, aiming to quickly respond to the growing demand for high-end materials in the Asia-Pacific market.

Core Event: Localized Production Officially Launched

According to industry media Plastics Today, BASF began commercial production of flame-retardant Elastollan thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) at its facility in Shanghai, China, in March 2026. This marks a significant step in BASF's localization of high-performance materials in the Asia Pacific region.

Products and Applications: Targeting High-Growth Frontier Areas

The Elastollan series of products launched this time feature excellent flame retardant properties, primarily serving core markets with high technical barriers and rapid growth.

Industrial Automation

Robot

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Facilities

This material is mainly used for manufacturing cable jackets that meet stringent safety standards, and it is also suitable for special tubes, hoses, and belts, among other components.

Strategic Significance: Optimizing Layout, Agile Response

Enhancing the Product Portfolio: The newly launched “FR Series” complements the local production of the “Halogen-Free Flame Retardant (FHF) Series” launched by this plant in 2023. With this addition, BASF can now offer a comprehensive portfolio of flame-retardant TPU products across the Asia-Pacific region.

Enhancing service efficiency: Localized production helps customers meet local compliance requirements more quickly and respond more nimbly to specific flame-retardant technology needs.

Enhancing Regional Competitiveness: Rohit Roop Ghosh, Vice President of TPU, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF, stated: “Local production of FR-grade products—combining outstanding flame-retardant efficiency with mechanical performance—enables us to respond more swiftly to the specific technical requirements of regional markets while strengthening our competitive advantage in strategic areas.”

BASF has launched commercial production of specialty elastomers in Shanghai—not merely expanding its production capacity, but also strategically deepening its penetration into the Asia-Pacific market and aligning itself with key growth sectors such as automation and electric vehicles. By delivering localized, high-performance, comprehensive material solutions, BASF is strengthening its market leadership position in the high-end engineering plastics sector.