Arkema expands Kynar PVDF capacity in China by 20%, strengthening supply capabilities to meet rising demand across high-growth industries globally.
Arkema has announced a major expansion of its Kynar PVDF production capacity at its manufacturing facility in Changshu, underscoring its commitment to meeting rapidly growing global demand. The company plans to increase the site’s capacity by 20%, with the new production unit scheduled to become operational in 2028. This investment aligns with Arkema’s broader strategic objective of strengthening its footprint in high-performance materials, particularly in regions experiencing accelerated industrial and technological growth such as Asia-Pacific.
The expansion is designed to address the sustained and rising demand for PVDF across a diverse set of high-growth industries. These include lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, advanced coatings for infrastructure and industrial use, chemical processing applications, semiconductor manufacturing, water purification technologies, as well as wire and cable solutions. By scaling up production, Arkema aims to ensure a more responsive, flexible, and dependable supply chain for its global customer base while supporting innovation-driven markets that rely on advanced material performance.
This project will also adhere to the highest standards of operational efficiency and manufacturing excellence, reflecting Arkema’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement across its global production network. The company emphasizes that this expansion is not just about increasing volume, but also about enhancing product quality, operational reliability, and sustainability performance at its facilities.
According to Laurent Tellier, Senior Vice-President of Arkema’s High Performance Polymers and Fluorogases division, the investment represents a significant milestone for the Group. He highlighted that the expansion will strengthen Arkema’s ability to support its customers’ growth trajectories while maintaining agility in supply and continuing to innovate in response to evolving market requirements.
A key factor supporting this initiative is Arkema’s extensive global research and development ecosystem. This network includes R&D centers located in China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. The Changshu R&D center plays a particularly important role in enabling close collaboration with regional customers, accelerating the development of advanced PVDF applications, and contributing to solutions for energy transition and next-generation manufacturing technologies. By leveraging this global innovation network, Arkema reinforces its leadership position in PVDF materials and their applications.
Arkema is already recognized as a leading global producer of PVDF, with its Changshu site serving as the largest manufacturing platform within its worldwide operations. In addition to China, the company produces PVDF at facilities in the United States and France. Notably, a separate capacity expansion at its Calvert City, Kentucky site is expected to come online in the second quarter of 2026, further strengthening its global supply capabilities.
Through this latest expansion in China, Arkema continues to position itself at the forefront of high-performance polymer production, ensuring it remains well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of industries driving the future of energy, mobility, and advanced manufacturing.
