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BASF Coatings increases production capacities in Caojing, China to meet growing Automotive demand in Asia Pacific
- Production capacity of polyester and polyurethane resins used in automotive spraycoats increased
- Additional capacities enhancement for electrocoat binder and intermediate grind resin through process optimization planned from 2026
- Expansion supports market growth in the automotive industry in China and across Asia Pacific
Shanghai, China - March 24, 2025 - BASF’s Coatings division has successfully expanded its production capacity for polyester and polyurethane resin at its Caojing plant in Shanghai, China. Originally established in 2015 with an annual capacity of 8,000 metric tons of polyester and polyurethane resin, the plant has now increased its capacity to 18,800 metric tons per year — a more than twofold increase.
In addition, BASF coatings is also planning to enhance its electrocoat binder production through process optimization at the Caojing site, starting in early 2026. This strategic move will strengthen BASF Coatings' leading position in the dynamic automotive coatings market, enabling the company to better support the growth of all coating layers used by automotive OEMs and component manufacturers over the next decade in the Asia Pacific region.
“The increased production capacity for resins and planned additional capacities for binders will enhance our supply reliability, enabling us to meet the growing demand for automotive OEM coatings in the region. This expansion underscores our commitment to local production and our ability to respond swiftly to customer needs,” said Patrick Zhao, Senior Vice President, Global Automotive OEM Coatings at BASF.
Located in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP), the BASF Caojing resin plant is serving the automotive coatings industry in China and the Asia Pacific region. The plant produces a range of raw materials of coatings, including acrylics, polyester, polyurethane, e-coat binder, and intermediate grinding resin. Notably, the facility is highly automated and powered by 100% renewable energy. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the resin plant’s successful operation.
“Over the past decade, the Caojing plant has set a benchmark for safe operations, innovation, and sustainability. The Shanghai Chemical Industry Park is committed to providing our valued partners, such as BASF, with a high-quality development environment and comprehensive support, including energy supply and improved utilities,” said Jinhua Hou, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Administrative Committee.
About BASF Coatings
The Coatings division of BASF is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners’ needs all over the world. BASF shares skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2024, the Coatings division achieved global sales of about €4.3 billion.
Solutions beyond your imagination – Coatings by BASF. For more information about BASF Coatings and its products, visit www.basf-coatings.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.
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