Kumho Mitsui Chemicals begins operations at new MDI production facilities

Yeosu, South Korea – Kumho Mitsui Chemicals has started an expansion project to add capacity for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in Yeosu, in the southern coast of South Korea.

The plant, a 50/50 JV between Kumho Petrochemical and Mitsui Chemicals, has capacity to produce 410 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) of the polyurethane feedstock.

With the expansion, production capacity at the plant will increase by 200ktpa to 610ktpa, said Mitsui Chemicals in a 23 Oct statement.

The Yeosu plant manufactures monomeric MDI and modified MDI used for making auto parts, elastic fibres and synthetic leather, as well as polymeric MDI used for making insulation materials.

The added capacity increase is intended to meet growing demand for urethane-based NVH components in electric vehicles, as well as in insulation materials.

In addition to expanding its production facilities, Kumho Mitsui Chemicals will install recycling facilities that can reuse the by-products created during the manufacturing process.

The statement did provide further details about the recycling process but said it would 'increase access to raw materials' and reducing wastewater and greenhouse gas emissions from the plant.