Bayer's MDI facility operating at full capacity

22-Dec-06

Bayer MaterialScience's production facilities at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site, that were shutdown after operational problems affected carbon monoxide (CO) production, are operating at full capacity once again. The facilities that have restarted are the carbon monoxide (CO), diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and polycarbonate plants, leading to the declaration of Force majeure being withdrawn with immediate effect. The facility had been operating at low capacity since mid-November 2006, causing the company to declare a force majeure for MDI in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region (EMEA). The shortfall in polycarbonate production was partially compensated for by sourcing supplies from other sites and making individual arrangements with customers. Bayers' production line for toluene diisocyanate (TDI) at the Bayer MaterialScience site in Baytown, USA, had to be shut down following an explosion, at the end of September. This production line has been repaired and is now gradually being brought back to full capacity, scheduled for January 2007, nearing which the company is expected to lift the declaration of force majeure.