Dow plans expansion of MDI production in Portugal
US-based Dow Chemical Company has announced plans to expand its manufacturing capacities at its production site in
Dow Polyurethanes, a business unit of Dow, intends to significantly expand its MDI production at the site. Scheduled for completion in 2009, the added capacity will help address strong market demand for the product, which is currently estimated at eight billion pounds per year globally.
“With global demand for MDI growing at a steady pace, we are constantly looking for simple ways to streamline our operations and add incremental capacity wherever we can,” explained Pat Dawson, vice president of Dow Polyurethanes. “At the Estarreja site we have the opportunity to realise an incremental capacity addition quickly and cost-effectively.”
MDI is a major raw material used in the production of rigid polyurethane foams and polyurethane elastomers and demand is currently growing at 6% to 7% annually.
