21-03-2013

Huntsman invests $135M in US and European MDI manufacturing plants

Huntsman Corporation today announced a combined investment of $135 million at two of its worldscale methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) manufacturing facilities: increasing capacity at its Geismar, USA site and upgrading its downstream specialties production capability at its Rotterdam, the Netherlands site.
 
The Geismar capacity will be increased by 50ktes to 500ktes using improved process technology developed by Huntsman. The expansion will enable Huntsman to support the growth of its key customers and leverages the significant advantages of the Geismar site, with its access to US shale gas, strong logistics base and excellent integration. The new capacity is expected to come on-stream in 2014 and will further consolidate Huntsman's position as the leading MDI producer in the Americas region.

At its Rotterdam facility, Huntsman is commissioning a new state-of-the-art MDI splitter and downstream specialties manufacturing unit which will enable Huntsman to serve customers with a full range of next-generation, differentiated polyurethane products for automotive, adhesives, coatings and other applications. The unit is designed to handle globally sourced MDI precursor and will be operational by the end of March.

Anthony P. Hankins, President of Huntsman Polyurethanes, said: “The Geismar investment enables us to strengthen our upstream cost leadership position, while the Rotterdam investment gives us greater flexibility to provide downstream, customized products. The benefits of US shale gas have significantly improved the economics of investing in US facilities and Huntsman has a number of other investments planned which will take advantage of lower cost natural gas.

In making these investments, Huntsman has benefited from the support of the Louisiana Economic Development and Ascension Parish Economic Development in the US, and the national government in The Netherlands. We thank them for their cooperation and support.”

In addition to its Geismar and Rotterdam sites, Huntsman Polyurethanes operates a third worldscale MDI facility in Caojing, Shanghai.