BASF Expands Plastic Additives Production Capacity In China

BASF is further strengthening its leadership in plastic additives solutions by expanding the production capacity of its general-purpose HALS and NOR HALS products. These investments aim to meet the growing global demand for high-performance plastics and ensure a stable supply of mature, future-oriented technologies. With its advanced NOR HALS platform, BASF is proactively addressing three key trends in plastic applications: intensified UV radiation, increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, and tightening environmental regulations. These trends are driving market demands for materials with longer service life, higher durability, and enhanced sustainability. Joerg Bentlage, Global Product Management Head for BASF’s Plastic Additives business, stated, “By expanding our HALS and NOR HALS capacities, we are enhancing supply stability and preparing for sustained market growth. Our technologies not only help customers improve product performance but also support their sustainability goals.”

Supporting the growing agricultural plastic applications in China

With increasingly extreme climate conditions and growing demands for sustainability, farmers, especially those in China—the world's largest market for agricultural plastic—are seeking agricultural film materials that combine durability, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Modern agricultural films must not only withstand intense sunlight and high temperatures, but also endure strong agricultural chemicals and mechanical stress caused by thinner film designs. BASF's NOR HALS technology remains at the forefront of the industry. It effectively protects films against intense ultraviolet radiation, high temperatures, acidic environments formed when using sulfur-containing agents, and increasing pesticide corrosion. This advanced stabilization treatment enhances structural and optical integrity, ensuring stable performance of the film over multiple growing seasons, thus reducing the frequency of replacement, lowering labor costs, and minimizing waste.

In China, greenhouse films, mulch films, small arch shelter films, silage films, and forage films are essential agricultural inputs that ensure grain production in different climate zones, making these advantages very important. BASF's NOR HALS platform ensures that agricultural films maintain long-term service life even under strong light and acidic conditions, reducing film damage and enhancing the convenience of film recycling, thus lowering plastic residue in the soil; by reducing the frequency of film replacement, it improves the efficiency of farmers' production. This technology maintains the light transmission and structural integrity of the agricultural films, ensuring stable lighting for greenhouse crops, which is a key factor in increasing the yield of greenhouse crops in China.

Meanwhile, extended durability and reduced material usage also support China’s continuously advancing sustainable development goals and its ongoing leadership in the application of plastics in agriculture.

Adopt AR (abrasion-resistant) product form, to achieve safer operation.

Agricultural film manufacturers produce thinner films without compromising on strength and service life, ensuring stable performance over multiple seasons, while reducing material consumption and environmental impact. To further enhance safety and production efficiency, BASF NOR solutions have introduced the AR (Abrasion Resistant) form, which significantly reduces dust generation during handling and processing. This method not only creates a cleaner working environment but also simplifies the production process of compounding and masterbatches.