At its US site in Geismar, Louisiana, domestic speciality chemicals group Huntsman (The Woodlands, Texas; www.huntsman.com), which focuses heavily on PU products, has begun operations at its new MDI splitter. The USD 180 mn (EUR 180 mn) plant is already producing on a commercial scale, the company said, but did not disclose the capacity.

Huntsman can now produce more pure MDI and other high-quality downstream products in Geismar. According to Plasteurope.com’s Polyglobe database (www.polyglobe.net), the capacity for raw MDI or MDI polymer at the site is 500,000 t/y, plus 430,000 t/y in the Netherlands and 370,000 t/y in China. It was not possible to find out how high the proportion of pure MDI is at these locations. Such higher-quality isocyanates are also used for so-called CASE applications, ie coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers, and high-quality flexible foams.

Huntsman reported revenues of USD 2.39 bn in the first quarter of 2022, a 30% increase on the year. Growth was equally supported by the three large divisions of polyurethanes, which accounts for more than two-thirds of sales, performance products (amines, maleic anhydride, and carbonates), and advanced materials (speciality polymers and epoxy resins). Higher material prices and increased sales volumes supported the divisions.

Adjusted EBITDA rose to USD 415 mn versus USD 289 mn in Q1 2021. However, the driving force was something other than polyurethane products and its growth of only 8%: earnings at the other two major divisions surged in the first three months of the year, according to the company.