German chemicals company Covestro is studying the construction of a new plant to produce methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in the Ruwais industrial city, in cooperation with Ta'azur and Fertiglobe, as part of its global plans to expand production capacity and strengthen its presence in high-growth markets.
The move comes in parallel with another project the company intends to implement in the Chinese city of Shanghai, where it plans to build a world-class production unit with a capacity of up to 660,000 metric tonnes per year. Covestro is also studying the construction of a similar plant in the United Arab Emirates of the same scale, within the framework of its expectations for a long-term rise in demand for MDI, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.
MDI is widely used in the production of rigid polyurethane foam, which is employed in multiple applications including building insulation, home appliances, and sports equipment, making it one of the essential materials in the industrial, construction, and energy sectors.