4 Major Plants Halted as Wanhua Launches Dual-Site Overhaul Impacting 2.56 Million Tons Capacity

Wanhua Chemical has announced a sweeping maintenance and upgrade initiative impacting four major production lines across its Fujian and Yantai industrial parks, totaling over 2.56 million tons of annual capacity. This move is set to influence key chemicals markets, including MDI, TDI, PVC, and ethylene, with effects already being felt in regional pricing.

Starting June 5, 2025, Wanhua’s Fujian complex will temporarily shut down its 800,000 t/y MDI, 360,000 t/y TDI, and 400,000 t/y PVC units for a planned 45-day overhaul, citing safety and operational reliability as top priorities. The synchronized stoppage comes amid a market uptrend for TDI, fueled by tightening supply and favorable tariff shifts. In response, Wanhua and Covestro both hiked TDI prices, with Wanhua’s latest offer reaching ¥12,500/ton, marking a ¥500 increase.

In a parallel move, the company’s Yantai site will initiate a five-month technical upgrade on its 1 million t/y ethylene phase-one unit starting June 3, aimed at achieving feedstock diversification. During this phase, the 1.2 million t/y phase-two unit will remain operational to support ongoing customer demand.

This large-scale maintenance wave underscores Wanhua’s push to optimize long-term plant efficiency while managing short-term supply pressures in critical chemical segments. Market participants are now bracing for continued price momentum as downstream supply tightens and the summer maintenance season peaks.