BASF marked twenty years of ester base stock production at its Jinshan site in Shanghai, reinforcing its position as a leading global supplier of synthetic esters for refrigeration lubricants. The Jinshan facility forms a key part of BASF’s global manufacturing network and plays a strategic role in serving customers and partners across the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide.
Capacity Expansion Supports Growing Cooling Demand
To address rapidly increasing demand for reliable and energy-efficient cooling systems, BASF doubled production capacity at the Jinshan site three years ago. The growth is being driven largely by developing economies, where urbanisation, rising incomes, and dense populations are accelerating demand for affordable and sustainable cooling technologies. Modern refrigeration and cooling systems rely on compressors that operate under varying pressures and temperatures. As a result, system efficiency and reliability depend heavily on advanced refrigeration oils specifically designed for compatibility with modern refrigerants.
BASF’s SYNATIVE ester base stocks form the foundation of these refrigeration oils and provide several key performance advantages, including:
*High thermal and oxidative stability
*Excellent lubricity
*Low volatility
*Strong refrigerant compatibility
These properties help improve energy efficiency, enhance equipment reliability, and extend the operational life of cooling systems.
Rising Applications Beyond Refrigeration
In addition to refrigeration systems, demand for synthetic esters is increasing across several industrial and advanced technology sectors.
BASF highlighted growing adoption in:
*Biohydraulic fluids
*Liquid cooling systems for data centres
*Electric mobility and e-driveline applications
The company noted that expanding digitalisation and artificial intelligence infrastructure are increasing the need for advanced thermal management solutions in data centres. Similarly, electric vehicles require efficient cooling and high-performance lubrication systems to optimise drivetrain performance.
Innovation Campus Accelerates Product Development
The Jinshan production site is closely integrated with BASF’s global Innovation Campus in Shanghai, enabling faster product development and closer customer collaboration. By combining local manufacturing capabilities, global R&D expertise, and the SYNATIVE product portfolio, BASF aims to support the development of next-generation lubricant and cooling technologies with shorter time-to-market.
Tanja Rost, Vice President Lubricant Components at BASF, said, “As the demand for synthetic esters continues to grow in Asia Pacific and globally, our strong commitment and close customer partnerships remain essential. Our leadership in synthetic ester base stocks, combined with strong R&D capabilities and local presence in China, enables us to support customers in developing next-generation refrigeration, lubricant, and cooling solutions that meet evolving regulatory and market requirements.”
BASF Advances Low-Carbon Synthetic Ester Solutions
BASF’s synthetic ester portfolio includes both fully saturated and unsaturated ester technologies produced using petrochemical as well as renewable raw materials. The company stated that synthetic esters are increasingly recognised as environmentally advanced solutions due to their high biodegradability, low toxicity and renewable raw material content of up to 90%. In addition, BASF offers low product carbon footprint solutions through its biomass balance approach, helping customers reduce emissions and support sustainability goals through lower CO₂ claims. As per the press release, through continued investment in innovation, production capacity, and sustainable technologies, BASF aims to strengthen its leadership in refrigeration lubricants, industrial cooling, and next-generation synthetic ester solutions.