Wanhua Chemical Expands HMDI and HDI Production Capacity to Lead the Global Market

According to the announcement on Wanhua Chemical's official website, Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. is seeking public opinions on the environmental impact of the expansion project of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) production in Yantai Chemical Industrial Park.

The project is located in Wanhua Yantai Industrial Park and involves increasing the production capacity of the existing HMDI unit from 20,000 tons per year to 40,000 tons per year. In addition, the expanded unit will also produce 30,000 tons of hydrogenated diphenylmethane diisocyanate (HDI) per year. The plan also includes the construction of a hydrogen peroxide (HCL) refining unit.

Wanhua Chemical said that the existing infrastructure such as tank farms, loading and unloading stations and environmental protection facilities in the factory will support the expansion business.

HMDI is an alicyclic diisocyanate with chemical properties similar to diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). Polyurethane products derived from HMDI are known for their excellent light stability, weather resistance, mechanical strength, hydrolysis resistance and chemical resistance. These properties make HMDI particularly suitable for the manufacture of polyurethane elastomers, waterborne polyurethanes, fabric coatings and radiation-cured polyurethane acrylate coatings.

Currently, the world's major producers of HDI-related chemicals include Covestro (annual production capacity of 190,000 tons) and Kangrui (annual production capacity of 70,000 tons), as well as Tosoh (annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, including technology upgrades), Asahi Kasei (annual production capacity of 22,000 tons) and Wanhua (current and planned/upgraded production capacity of 260,000 tons). The first phase production capacity of Meirui New Materials is 100,000 tons/year, and the planned production capacity of NHU is 100,000 tons/year. It is worth noting that most of the recent growth in global HDI production capacity is concentrated in China.