Tosoh Co., Ltd. (Tosoh) plans to build a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) separation unit in Bahria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam and is expected to start commercial operation before October 2026.
Tosoh plans to operate this separation unit, using crude MDI as raw material, with an annual output of 100,000 tons of pure MDI and polymerized MDI. MDI is a raw material for the production of polyurethane. The goal is to start construction in November 2024 and complete the construction of the separation unit by June 2026.
Tosoh will import crude MDI from Japan to a separation unit in Vietnam. Tosoh produces 400,000 tons/year of crude MDI at its Nanyo plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture, southern Japan.
Tosoh has an 85,000 tons/year MDI separation unit in China and a separation unit at its Nanyo plant with an undisclosed capacity, but it is said to have an annual output of 400,000 tons. Even after launching the Vietnam separation unit, its MDI output will remain unchanged as Tosoh plans to adjust production in Japan and China based on demand.
Tosoh also plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary Tosoh Vietnam Polyurethane Co., Ltd. (tentative name) by January next year to enhance MDI sales in Southeast Asia.