BASF Expands Capacity for HALS and NOR® HALS to Support Global Megatrends

· Major investments in standard HALS and NOR HALS capacities

· Advanced NOR technology supports the development of agricultural plastics in China

· Launch of new abrasion-resistant (AR) product form to enhance operational safety

April 21, 2026 – BASF is further consolidating its leadership in plastic additive solutions by expanding capacities for general HALS and NOR HALS products. These investments are aimed at meeting the growing global demand for high-performance plastics and ensuring a stable supply of proven, future-ready technologies. With its advanced NOR HALS platform, BASF is actively addressing three key trends in plastic applications: increased UV radiation, increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, and stricter environmental regulations. These trends drive market demand for longer service life, higher durability, and better sustainability. Joerg Bentlage, Global Head of Product Management for BASF's Plastic Additives business, said: "By expanding HALS and NOR HALS capacities, we are enhancing supply stability and preparing for continued market growth. Our technology helps customers improve product performance while supporting their sustainability goals."

Supporting China's Growing Agricultural Plastics Segment

As climate conditions become more extreme and sustainability requirements increase, farmers—particularly in China, the world's largest agricultural plastics market—are seeking agricultural film materials that offer durability, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Modern agricultural films must withstand not only intense sunlight and high temperatures, but also strong agrochemicals and mechanical stresses from thinner film designs. BASF's NOR HALS technology remains at the forefront of the industry. Specifically, it helps agricultural films resist high-intensity UV radiation, high temperatures, acidic environments caused by sulfur-containing chemicals, and increasingly aggressive pesticide exposure. This powerful stabilization ensures structural and optical integrity, keeping film performance stable over multiple seasons, thereby reducing replacement frequency, labor input, and waste generation.

These advantages are particularly important in China, where greenhouse films, mulching films, low tunnel films, silage films, and hay films are critical agricultural inputs for food production across different climate zones. BASF's NOR HALS platform ensures that agricultural films maintain long service life even under strong light and acidic conditions, reducing plastic residues in soil through less film breakage and easier recycling, and improving farming efficiency by reducing the frequency of film replacement. By maintaining light transmission and structural integrity, the technology ensures stable light exposure for greenhouse crops—a key factor in increasing greenhouse crop yields in China.

At the same time, longer durability and lower material usage support China's rising sustainability goals and its continued leadership in agricultural plastic applications.

Safer Operation with AR (Abrasion-Resistant) Product Form

Agricultural film producers are making thinner films without compromising film strength or service life, ensuring stable performance over multiple seasons while reducing material consumption and environmental impact. To further improve safety and production efficiency, BASF's NOR solutions are now available in an AR (abrasion-resistant) form, which significantly reduces dust generation during handling and processing. This approach not only creates a cleaner working environment but also simplifies compounding and masterbatch production processes.