BASF starts commercial production of Elastollan® Flame‑Retardant (FR) TPU grade in Shanghai
- Commercial supply beginning March 2026, accelerating responsiveness and application development for the cable industry in Asia Pacific
- Key applications include industrial automation, robotic and EV charging
Shanghai, China – March 2, 2026 – BASF today announced that its Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) plant in Shanghai is qualified to produce Elastollan® Flame‑Retardant (FR) TPU grade, offering a comprehensive portfolio of flame-retardant solutions including both FHF and FR grades.
This milestone builds on the plant’s 2023 localization of the Halogen-free Flame-Retardant (FHF) TPU series for customers in Asia Pacific. With the addition of the FR series, BASF now offers enhanced FR performance designed for more stringent application conditions. With both the FHF and FR series produced locally, BASF provides a comprehensive portfolio of FR TPU solutions to support key cable sectors—including industrial automation, robotic, EV charging—in meeting local compliance requirements and addressing specialized FR needs with greater agility and confidence.
“Local production of FR grades that combine superior flame-retardant efficiency with excellent mechanical performance enables us to respond faster to specific technical requirements of the regional market while strengthening our competitive position in strategic segments—not only in cable applications, but also in specialty tubes, hoses and belt sectors moving forward,” said Rohit Roop Ghosh, Vice President, Business Management TPU, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.
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.
About BASF’s Performance Materials division
BASF’s Performance Materials division drives the transformation of the plastics industry by uniting sustainability with high performance. Our materials expertise, deep industry know-how, and broad product portfolio make us the preferred partner for comprehensive solutions across the plastics lifecycle. With dedicated material-focused teams, strong R&D power, and a global production network close to our customers, we deliver tailored offerings that meet regional and industry-specific needs. Our products enhance performance and efficiency in key sectors such as automotive, construction, consumer goods, and industrial applications. Together with our partners, we embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2024, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.8 billion.
Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn https://on.basf.com/PM_LinkedIn
and in our newsletter https://on.basf.com/PM_Newsletter.
Further information at https://www.performance-materials.basf.com.
