BASF’s Coatings division has expanded production capacity for polyester and polyurethane resins at its Caojing plant in Shanghai, China. Established in 2015 with an annual capacity of 8,000 metric tons, the site now produces 18,800 metric tons per year—a more than twofold increase.

The Caojing facility supports the automotive coatings industry across China and the Asia Pacific region. In addition to resins, BASF plans to enhance electrocoat binder and intermediate grind resin production at the site through process optimization, beginning in early 2026. These efforts aim to strengthen BASF’s position in the regional automotive coatings market and support demand across all coating layers used by OEMs and component manufacturers.

“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,” said Patrick Zhao, senior vice president, global automotive OEM coatings at BASF. “This expansion underscores our commitment to local production and our ability to respond swiftly to customer needs.”

Located in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP), the Caojing resin plant produces a range of raw materials for coatings, including acrylics, polyester, polyurethane, e-coat binder, and intermediate grinding resin. The facility is highly automated and powered entirely by renewable energy. This year marks its 10th anniversary.

“Over the past decade, the Caojing plant has set a benchmark for safe operations, innovation, and sustainability,” said Jinhua Hou, deputy director of the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Administrative Committee. “SCIP 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.”

Learn more at www.basf.com.