Huntsman Invests $135M in US and European MDI Plants

Investment Overview

Huntsman Corporation announced a $135 million investment to enhance its methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) manufacturing facilities in Geismar, USA, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. This investment aims to increase production capacity and upgrade downstream specialties production capabilities.

Geismar Expansion

The Geismar site will see a capacity increase of 50ktes, bringing the total to 500ktes. This expansion utilizes improved process technology developed by Huntsman and is expected to be operational in 2014. The site benefits from access to US shale gas, strong logistics, and excellent integration, consolidating Huntsman's position as a leading MDI producer in the Americas.

Rotterdam Upgrades

In Rotterdam, Huntsman is commissioning a new state-of-the-art MDI splitter and downstream specialties manufacturing unit. This facility will enable the production of next-generation, differentiated polyurethane products for various applications, including automotive, adhesives, and coatings. The unit is designed to handle globally sourced MDI precursor and is expected to be operational by the end of March.

Support and Collaboration

Huntsman has received support from the Louisiana Economic Development and Ascension Parish Economic Development in the US, as well as the national government in the Netherlands. This collaboration has been instrumental in facilitating the investments and ensuring their successful implementation.

Global Operations

In addition to the Geismar and Rotterdam sites, Huntsman Polyurethanes operates a third worldscale MDI facility in Caojing, Shanghai, further strengthening its global production capabilities.