On June 8, BASF announced plans to close its expandable polystyrene (EPS) production facility at its Ulsan plastics site in South Korea. All related manufacturing operations are scheduled to cease in mid-June 2026.

This move forms part of BASF’s ongoing strategic review to optimize its global styrenics production footprint and strengthen competitiveness amid shifting market dynamics.

Bir Darbar Mehta, Senior Vice President of BASF’s Petrochemicals Asia Pacific division, stated: “Our top priority is sustainable value creation. This decision delivers on our commitment to proactively adjust our production network to align with market conditions and secure long-term competitive strengths. We will continue reviewing opportunities for operational optimization and focus on our most strategically advantaged assets.”

BASF will maintain customer support throughout the transition phase to guarantee reliable, uninterrupted supply. The company holds a solid market position in Europe, where its fully integrated production infrastructure lays a robust foundation for its global styrenics business. The shutdown of the EPS plant in Ulsan, South Korea, will have no impact on BASF’s styrenics operations across Europe.