New 240 kt/y MDI plant to be built in Shanghai

With the new plant, the crude MDI capacity at this site will be doubled to 480,000 t/y. The new plant, at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) in Caojing, will be adjacent to the existing integrated isocyanates complex. This will enable the utilisation and full access to raw materials and energy. In addition, the partners plan to build an HCl (hydrogen chloride) recycling plant for the production of chlorine, a precursor for MDI. The facility is expected to start up 2017.

“The new crude MDI plant will further strengthen our ability to provide our customers in the region with high quality, locally manufactured products. It signals our confidence in the long term prosperity of what is now the single largest market in the world as well as our commitment to serve the growing needs of our customers,” said Peter Huntsman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Huntsman.

“Asia Pacific remains an important growth and investment region for BASF, with the fast growing Chinese market being a major focus. Polyurethanes are among the most versatile materials existing to address sustainability issues across numerous applications such as the automotive or construction industries. With the new plant, BASF can participate in this dynamic market,” said Martin Brudermüller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, responsible for Asia Pacific.

Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate Co. Ltd. (SLIC) currently has a production capacity of 240,000 t/y of crude MDI and includes manufacturing facilities for the precursors aniline and nitrobenzene built by Huntsman, BASF, Shanghai Hua Yi (Group) Company, Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co. Ltd. and Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao Company. Commercial production started in 2006.