On March 16, Arkema announced that it will increase the production capacity of its PVDF plant in Changshu, China by 20%. The new capacity is expected to come on stream in 2028. This major investment underscores the Group’s strategic direction as Arkema accelerates the expansion of its PVDF capacity footprint to better meet the fast growing market demand in the Asia Pacific region and other parts of the world.

Arkema disclosed that the additional capacity is designed to support the sustained strong growth in demand across key markets, including lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems (ESS), high performance coatings, chemical processing, semiconductor manufacturing, water treatment, and wire and cable applications. The project will be implemented to the highest standards for operational excellence, reflecting Arkema’s ongoing commitment to upgrading production operations at its plants worldwide.

The project leverages Arkema’s robust global R&D network, which secures the Group’s innovative leadership in cutting edge PVDF applications and technologies. This R&D ecosystem includes the Changshu R&D Center in China, as well as major research centers in France, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Through the collaborative layout of these laboratories, Arkema works closely with customers to accelerate the development of high performance solutions for the energy transition and advanced manufacturing.

Arkema is a leading global producer of PVDF, with its Changshu site being the Group’s largest production base worldwide. The Group’s PVDF production network also includes facilities in Calvert City, Kentucky, USA, and Pierre Bénite, France. The capacity expansion at the Calvert City plant in the US was announced last year and is scheduled to start production in the second quarter of 2026.