Huntsman to expand MDI capacity with new world scale plant at Rozenburg

26-Feb-08

Huntsman Corporation plans to increase global methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) capacity through investment in a new, world scale MDI plant at its site in Rozenburg, the Netherlands. Huntsman has commenced design and feasibility studies, including preliminary engineering for the new unit. A final investment decision is expected during 2008, with the new 400,000 metric tons capacity unit coming on-stream by mid-2011. The final plan may also include closure of older, less efficient capacity in Europe. Huntsman also intends to expand its MDI and downstream asset capacity in all three major regions through the deployment of new proprietary technologies in aniline, methylene dianiline (MDA) and MDI production, which will both increase raw material yields and improve energy efficiency by up to 40%, as compared with previous generation technology. Global MDI market will continue to grow well ahead of global GDP, at around 7-8% pa during the next decade. MDI growth in Asia will be pegged well above 10%.