Kumho Mitsui Chemicals Completes 610,000t MDI Production System... "Second Largest Single Plant in the World"

Investment of 570 Billion KRW
Accelerating Self-Sufficiency in Core Technology

Kumho Mitsui Chemicals announced that on the 3rd, it held a completion ceremony for the MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) expansion plant with a capacity of 200,000 tons at its Yeosu plant in Jeonnam.

Through this expansion project, Kumho Mitsui Chemicals has completed a production and sales system of 610,000 tons annually, up from the previous 410,000 tons. The total investment cost amounts to approximately 570 billion KRW. With this production capacity, the company has risen to become the second largest in the world, following Chinese competitors, based on a single plant capacity.

Kumho Mitsui Chemicals held a completion ceremony on the 3rd for the expansion plant of 200,000 tons of MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) at the Yeosu plant in Jeonnam. From the left, sixth person onward, Baek Jong-hoon, CEO of Kumho Petrochemical, Jeong Gi-myeong, Mayor of Yeosu, and Park Chan-gu, Chairman of Kumho Petrochemical, are cutting the ribbon. (Photo by Kumho Mitsui Chemicals)

Tanno and Tsutomu, Chairmen of Mitsui Chemicals Japan, and Park Jun-kyung, General Manager of Kumho Petrochemical, are cutting the commemorative ribbon.

MDI is a key raw material for polyurethane used in furniture, insulation materials, automotive interiors, memory foam, and insulation for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. Its applications are gradually expanding from everyday life to various industrial sectors. Recently, due to the rapid growth in demand from the LNG industry, orders for carriers have increased, and market demand for high-performance polyurethane materials is also on the rise.

The new plant will introduce an eco-friendly recycling process for the first time. By reducing by-products and wastewater generated during MDI production with chlorine and caustic soda and reinjecting them as raw materials, the company applies environmentally friendly raw material recycling technology to prevent environmental pollution while increasing the self-sufficiency rate of raw materials, according to the company. Kumho Mitsui Chemicals stated, “Through eco-friendly technology and self-sufficiency of key raw materials, we have secured a global competitive advantage.”

Meanwhile, with the completion of the new plant, Kumho Mitsui Chemicals plans to solidify its position as a leading polyurethane maker in the domestic market while accelerating the expansion of its overseas supply network. Park Chan-gu, Chairman of Kumho Petrochemical Group, said in his congratulatory speech, “I hope Kumho Mitsui Chemicals will contribute to the development of Korean industry and the recovery of the business environment.” In addition, On Yong-hyun, President of Kumho Mitsui Chemicals, stated in his commemorative speech, “With the full-scale operation of the new plant, we have laid the foundation for growth as a global leading PU maker,” and added, “We will grow into a sustainable company that fulfills social responsibility.”

Meanwhile, about 100 people attended the completion ceremony, including Jeong Ki-myeong, Mayor of Yeosu, Chairman Park Chan-gu, Tsutomu Tanno, Chairman of Mitsui Chemicals Japan, Park Jun-kyung, CEO of Kumho Petrochemical, President On Yong-hyun, and executives and employees of affiliated companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.