Kumho Mitsui Chemicals Decides to Increase MDI Production Facilities
~Toward a stable supply of high-performance materials that support mobility and the living environment~
2025.12.15 Mitsui Chemicals Corporation —Kumho Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea, President & CEO: Park Chan-gu, hereinafter referred to as "Kumho Mitsui Chemicals"), an affiliate of Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Osamu Hashimoto), is pleased to announce that it has decided to expand its production facilities for diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI).
Kumho Mitsui Chemicals Yeosu Plant
Overview of Facility Enhancement
| 1. Product | MDI (Diphenylmethane Diisocyanate) |
|---|---|
| 2. Location | South Korea Jeollanam-do Yeosu City |
| 3. augmentation ability |
100,000 tons/year (610,000 tons/year → increased to 710,000 tons/year) |
| 4. Schedule (planned) | Construction will begin in February 2026 and be completed in May 27 |
MDI is a representative polyurethane main raw material used in many fields, such as automobile parts, furniture and bedding, insulation materials for houses and refrigerators, raw materials for elastic fibers and various adhesives. Demand for MDI is expected to increase at an annual rate of 5% due to the impact of policies to improve the insulation performance of residential buildings promoted in various countries to curb global warming, as well as the increasing demand for improved comfort due to economic growth.
Kumho Mitsui Chemicals manufactures and sells high-performance MDI (monomeric, modified MDI, and high-viscosity polymeric) used in automotive parts, elastic fibers, and highly flame-retardant insulation materials, as well as general-purpose MDI (polymeric) used in insulation materials for housing and home appliances. The production facility will be increased by 200,000 tons in 2024 and is already in full production. This expansion will not only support the growth in demand for automotive materials, but also meet the further expansion of demand for high-performance MDI used in highly flame-retardant insulation materials. In this expansion, we will make full use of the recycling equipment introduced during the previous expansion to reduce GHG emissions per unit weight of MDI. This will simultaneously reduce carbon footprint and streamline costs by improving energy efficiency, aiming to build a sustainable production system.
Kumho Mitsui Chemicals aims to be a leading global MDI company. Through this expansion, Mitsui Chemicals will continue to expand its MDI business, which is expected to grow in the future, and further enhance its functionality.
Source: Mitsui Chemicals
