French chemicals producer Arkema has filed a RMB 430 million patent infringement lawsuit against subsidiaries of Shanghai Huayi Holding Group Co., Ltd., according to a disclosure issued by the Chinese state-owned company on November 15.
Arkema alleges that Shanghai Huayi New Materials Co., Ltd. and Guangxi Huayi New Materials Co., Ltd. used its patented methods for producing acrylic acid without authorization, triggering one of the largest patent disputes in China’s acrylic derivatives sector in recent years.
The litigation dates to March 29, 2024, when the two Huayi units received a civil complaint from the Shanghai High People’s Court. Arkema initially demanded joint damages of RMB 430 million from both defendants, but on November 14, 2025, refined its claim to seek full liability from Shanghai Huayi New Materials, with Guangxi Huayi New Materials jointly liable for RMB 110 million. The overall claim amount remains unchanged.
The case concerns two patents—No. 200780034079.8, originally filed in 2007 and transferred to Arkema in 2010, and No. 201210384253.4, filed by Arkema in 2012. Both patents cover methods for preparing acrylic acid, belong to the same patent family, and are due to expire in about three years.
Shanghai Huayi New Materials had challenged the validity of both patents at the China National Intellectual Property Administration, but CNIPA upheld them on July 30, 2024.
Arkema is the world’s second-largest supplier of acrylic acid and ranked 38th in the 2023 Global Top 50 Chemical Companies. Its acrylic derivatives business expanded significantly after the company acquired related assets from Dow, giving it a global patent portfolio covering core production and recycling technologies.
Shanghai Huayi Holding Group, one of China’s major state-owned chemical producers, operates across energy and chemicals, advanced materials, fine chemicals and related sectors. Its acrylic ester business ranks among the top three in China. Supported by growing output at its Guangxi production base, the group is now a key player in China’s acrylic acid value chain.
Analysts say the lawsuit is being closely watched due to the size of the claims, the strategic importance of acrylic acid as a base material, and the increasing frequency of cross-border IP disputes in China’s chemical industry. The case’s outcome may shape market expectations around patent enforcement standards and licensing practices in the sector.
