BASF expands automotive coatings production in Thailand to serve ASEAN market

BASF will build a new manufacturing facility for waterborne and solventborne coatings at its Bangpoo site in Thailand.

The new production facility complements the facilities at the new Coatings Technical Competence Center ASEAN, which was opened in September 2015 and includes a laboratory for product development, performance testing, color design, as well as a small batch production unit.

BASF noted that the expansion will better serve the strong demand from the expanding automotive industry in ASEAN.

"ASEAN is a growing market for the automotive industry and it is also strategically important to BASF's coatings business in the region," said Peter Fischer, Senior Vice President, Coatings Solutions Asia Pacific. "Recognizing the potential in ASEAN, we have been active in the automotive coatings industry there for more than ten years with a particularly strong foothold in Thailand. This commitment has made us the number one motorcycle coatings supplier in Thailand."

In 2015, the total annual car production in ASEAN was 3.8 million units (source: LMC Automotive April 2016). Thailand is the region's hub and represents the largest coatings market within ASEAN, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia.