According to the statistics of China Polyurethane Industry Association, China's polyether polyol production capacity will reach 7.41 million tons in 2023, and the output will be 4.09 million tons. The phenomenon of overcapacity continues to intensify, what should the industry do? At the 13th Scientific Research, Production and Technical Exchange Conference of the Polyol Branch of China Polyurethane Industry Association held in Liyang, Jiangsu recently, the representatives at the meeting suggested that independent innovation should be used to achieve product differentiation, accelerate the integration of the industrial chain, and continuously meet new market demands. .
Lack of demand and market downturn
"On the one hand, the production capacity of Chinese factories continues to expand, and on the other hand, the source of imported goods continues to flow in, and the product structure is becoming more and more perfect. These have intensified the market competition of polyether polyols in China." Lu Guoguo, Secretary General of the Polyurethane Association, said .
At present, the downstream consumption of polyether polyols is mainly concentrated in upholstered furniture, refrigerators and car seats. Last year, due to the great downward pressure of the macro economy, the market downturn led to a sluggish demand for polyether polyols in China. In 2023, the consumption of polyether polyols will be 3.14 million tons, a decrease of 8.3% from the previous year, of which soft polyether and rigid polyether account for 28% and 26% respectively.
"In the past two years, the domestic polyurethane industry has been affected by the overall market environment. The market demand in the first half of 2023 is still flat compared with before the epidemic. The automobile, sponge, runway, waterproof and other industries still need to be further recovered. The overall downstream market performance Flat. This has also led to price competition for most brands of polyether polyol products, such as soft foam, elastomers and some high-resilience products. The sales price of enterprises with raw material matching advantages is even far lower than the production cost. And the price of propylene oxide, the profitability of production enterprises is greatly reduced." said Zhu Bin, president of Sinochem Chlor-Alkali Division, executive director and party secretary of Shandong Bluestar Dongda Co., Ltd.
Exports ease overcapacity
Fortunately, the export growth has alleviated the overcapacity pressure of polyether polyols to a certain extent, and it will also allow China's polyether polyol production to maintain a growth trend in 2023. "In order to transfer the pressure of overcapacity, Chinese polyether factories have accelerated the expansion of export layout. Moreover, international events such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the European energy crisis have caused a supply gap, which is also good for the export of Chinese polyether products." Lu Guohui said.
However, in the long run, China's polyether production capacity is still on the rise. According to the data provided by the Polyurethane Association, there are many new and expanded polyether polyol projects planned in China recently, with an annual production capacity of 4.54 million tons according to incomplete statistics. In this regard, experts suggest that the downstream market demand for polyurethane is constantly changing. In the face of fierce market competition, all production enterprises should vigorously develop independent innovative products, enhance product differentiation, accelerate chain extension, strengthen chain and industry integration, and upgrade the industry. Concentration and integration to enhance market competitiveness.
Downstream products bloom more
Wang Yue, director of research and development at the China Academy of Building Research, said that in the output of waterproof materials, waterproof coatings account for about 30%, of which the annual output of polyurethane waterproof coatings is 800,000 to 1 million tons. At present, polyurethane waterproof coatings still have problems such as poor product batch stability and poor effect when used in combination with other waterproof materials. Special raw materials or customized raw materials are one of the key factors in the future research and development of polyurethane waterproof coatings. It should promote the development of coatings to tilt upstream, and develop water-based polyurethane waterproof coatings with composite functions, adapting to new application scenarios.
Yang Xiangdong, an associate researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Agricultural Regional Planning of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that the current use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural land in my country is much higher than the world average level, and agricultural technology innovation is imminent. It is necessary to increase the application of new polyurethane materials in modern agriculture, develop specialized, functional and engineered agricultural films, seed coatings, soil water retention and other products, especially the use of bio-based and degradable polyurethane materials to develop new green fertilizers, Green smart fertilizers, and increase the development of corresponding polymer polyol products.
Professor Zhang Junying, director of research on adhesive materials and in-situ curing technology at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, proposed a new idea and route for the innovative development of epoxy resins, that is, to use propylene oxide to prepare isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylene oxide, Perform performance regulation. This is forward-looking for the innovative development of polymer polyols.
Lv Guoguo pointed out that the current polyether polyol industry is accelerating innovation, research and development and upgrading, and many new technologies and processes have been effectively applied and promoted. Such as developing and synthesizing polyether polyols and related derivatives with high relative molecular weight, narrow relative molecular mass distribution, high activity and low degree of unsaturation; on the premise of ensuring the basic performance of polyether polyols, to low odor, low aldehyde content, low VOC and environmental friendliness; develop bio-based raw materials and products, promote sustainable development of the industry, etc. However, it is still necessary to strengthen the research and development of new catalysts represented by phosphazene and tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, and develop functional polyethers such as polycarbonate polyols and MS polymers.
The reporter learned that many polyol companies are currently focusing on the development of customized and differentiated products. Zhu Bin said that Shandong Bluestar Dongda Co., Ltd., as the chairman unit of the polyol branch, has successfully achieved import substitution for a variety of products. Guo Fengxiao, Chief Scientist of Asahikawa Chemical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., said that the company can provide structurally customized production services, such as adjusting product branching degree, molecular weight, catalytic system, etc., to improve the weather resistance and other properties of polyester polyol products. (Xu Yan)
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