August 21, 2025

Chinese PMDI Trade Flows

China PMDI Trade Update: Exports Regionalize, Imports Increase from ME with Lower Prices

PUdaily | Updated: August 21, 2025

PMDI Export

In July 2025, China exported 64,100 tonnes of polymeric MDI, down 18% year‑on‑year and down 24.8% month-on-month, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

China’s polymeric MDI exports from January to July amounted to 476,500 tonnes, down 18% year-on-year. 

Exports to ASEAN Countries and India Rise, With Pronounced Regionalization Trend

From January to July, cumulative exports from China to most of Top 10 destinations fell year-on-year, with the exceptions of India, Vietnam, and Thailand, which recorded increases. The polyurethane supply chain is exhibiting an increasingly pronounced regionalization trend. U.S. tariff policies have disrupted global trade flows, accelerating a shift from globalization toward regional trade for China’s polymeric MDI exports.

China’s FTAs with ASEAN economies, and geographic proximity, have also encouraged Chinese appliance, textile and automobile manufacturers to invest in or relocate production to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and other nearby countries. These shifts hedge the trade uncertainty and reduce supply chain disruption risks of enterprises.

Table 1: China’s Top 10 PMDI Export Destinations, Jan-Jul 2025

PMDI Import

In July 2025, China imported 42,300 tonnes of polymeric MDI, up 70.1% year-on-year and up 85.6% month-on-month.

China’s polymeric MDI imports from January to July totaled 205,400 tonnes, up 16.9% year-on-year. Monthly imports had ranged between 20,000-35,000 tonnes from January through June, but surged to 42,000 tonnes in July, driven by higher imports from Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the increase from Saudi Arabia was particularly notable.

China imported 19,700 tonnes of polymeric MDI from Saudi Arabia in July, up 50.7% month-on-month. January-July imports from Saudi Arabia totaled 92,200 tonnes, up 27.6% year-on-year. Strength in China’s PMDI market in May-June, combined with relatively low price levels in the Middle East and Europe (around USD 1,700/tonne), encouraged increased Middle East shipments into China.

Imports from South Korea also rose (Jan-Jul volumes up 27% year-on-year), but Korean goods carried a higher average price – about USD 1,949/tonne – exceeding the average import prices from Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Table 2: China’s polymeric MDI Imports, Jan-July 2025

https://www.pudaily.com/Home/NewsDetails/58096

August 12, 2025

Wanhua Results

Wanhua Chemical Released 1H 2025 Financial Report

PUdaily | Updated: August 12, 2025

On August 11, Wanhua Chemical released its 1H 2025 financial report. The company posted revenue of CNY 90.90 billion, down 6.4 % year-on-year; net profit attributable to shareholders was CNY 6.12 billion, down 25.1 %; recurring net profit was CNY 6.24 billion, down 22.9 %; and net cash from operating activities was CNY 10.53 billion, up 2.3 %.

In the second quarter, revenue reached CNY 47.83 billion (-6.0 % YoY); net profit attributable to shareholders was CNY 3.04 billion (-24.3 % YoY); and recurring net profit was CNY 3.20 billion (-19.3 % YoY).

In the report, the company noted that despite weak global demand and geopolitical tensions, the chemical industry remained stable overall. Wanhua continued to optimize the structure of its polyurethane, petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and advanced materials businesses. Within polyurethane, demand from new-energy and high-end manufacturing segments was robust, while overseas energy-efficient construction markets underperformed.

In petrochemicals, concentrated capacity additions created supply-demand imbalances, pushing prices lower and compressing margins. Specialty chemicals and advanced materials benefited from supportive national policies and achieved steady growth with promising prospects. Under the management theme of “Year of Transformation,” the company reorganized structures and mindsets, strengthened cost control and resource-allocation efficiency, and responded actively to market shifts to sustain optimization.

Wanhua remains innovation-driven to upgrade its portfolio. It is advancing next-generation MDI technology, expanding capacity and implementing energy-saving projects to achieve best-in-class cost competitiveness. In-house technologies are being commercialized rapidly: the MS unit started up successfully on the first attempt, enriching the optical product line; tert-butylamine reached industrial scale, extending the specialty amine chain; sulfone polymers have produced on-spec material, rounding out Wanhua’s engineering-plastics solutions; bio-based 1,3-butanediol has been qualified by cosmetics customers. Battery-material R&D continues to accelerate: fourth-generation lithium iron phosphate is already in mass production, and the fifth generation has completed its initial release. A differentiation strategy yielded multiple high-value-added POE, polyolefin, nylon 12 and modified-material grades, penetrating niche markets and boosting new-business capabilities. AI-enabled research projects are progressing in an orderly manner; the National Key Laboratory for High-Performance Organic Optical Polymers and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies remains focused on strategic needs, deepening external collaboration and building mutually beneficial ecosystems with industry partners. In 2025, the company filed 469 domestic and international invention patents and was granted 269, accelerating overseas patent deployment to support global expansion of new businesses.

https://www.pudaily.com/Home/NewsDetails/57895

August 11, 2025

DIC Announces New Epoxy Resin Plant

DIC to Build New Epoxy Resin Production Facility at Chiba Plant

ECHEMI2025-08-11

DIC Corporation is committed to providing unique solutions in the field of “chemical electronics,” focusing on semiconductor packaging materials and cutting-edge electronic components, anticipating future growth in demand for these materials.

To achieve this goal, DIC has decided to build a new epoxy resin production facility at its Chiba Plant in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. This investment decision reflects the approval by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of this investment plan as a “Plan to Ensure Stable Supply” under the Law on Securing National Security through the Integrated Implementation of Economic Measures, for which DIC expects to receive subsidies of up to 3 billion yen.

Epoxy resin is a highly reactive thermosetting synthetic resin with excellent moldability, heat resistance, electrical insulation, and adhesion properties, and is widely used in various industries.

The existing epoxy resin production facility at the Chiba Plant currently has insufficient capacity to meet the expected growth in demand. Therefore, DIC plans to secure additional epoxy resin production capacity in the medium and long term by constructing new production facilities adjacent to the existing facilities. This facility will also introduce new production processes to achieve world-class quality and higher production efficiency, thereby enhancing its competitiveness.

https://www.echemi.com/cms/2539120.html

August 10, 2025

Tosoh Results

Tosoh Corporation Announced its First-quarter Consolidated Results for 2026 Fiscal Year

PUdaily | Updated: August 8, 2025

August  05,  2025, Tokyo, Japan—Tosoh Corporation is pleased to announce its first-quarter consolidated results for its 2026 fiscal year, from April 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025. 

The Company’s net sales decreased ¥7.7 billion (3.1%) year-on-year to ¥245.1 billion (US$1.7 billion), during the first quarter the first three months of the Company’s 2026 fiscal year which extends from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. This decrease was attributable to lower naphtha prices and the progressively stronger yen, as well as a decrease in shipment volume resulting from reduced production volume during scheduled maintenance at the Nanyo Complex.

The Company’s consolidated operating income decreased ¥3.7 billion (18.9%) year-on-year to ¥16.1 billion (US$111.2 million), due to unfavorable inventory fluctuations and increased fixed costs, despite sales growth in the Engineering Group and improved terms of trade backed by lower prices in raw materials and fuels, including naphtha and coal. Non-operating income decreased ¥9.5 billion year-on-year due to deterioration in foreign exchange gains and losses.

Ordinary income decreased ¥13.3 billion (48.5%) year-on-year to ¥14.1 billion (US$97.4 million).

Quarterly net income attributable to owners of parent decreased ¥9.7 billion (59.8%) year-on-year to ¥6.5 billion (US$45.2 million).

During the period under review, the United States saw steady growth where the labor market remained firm. In Europe, the economy recovered moderately as inflation eased, while in China, there were signs of improvement supported by policy measures. Due to the impact of the United States’ uncertain tariff policies, the ongoing real estate recession and deflation in China, both the Japanese and overseas economies faced an uncertain outlook and continued to experience challenging conditions.

Chlor-alkali

Chlor-alkali Group net sales decreased ¥9.7 billion (10.5%) year-on-year to ¥82.1 billion (US$567.7 million). Operating income decreased ¥3.2 billion year-on-year, resulting in an operating loss of ¥1.9 billion (US$13.0 million). This was due to unfavorable inventory fluctuations and a decrease in shipments, despite improved terms of trade for caustic soda and MDI backed by lower prices in raw materials and fuels.

Caustic soda shipments decreased due to lower production volume from scheduled maintenance at the Nanyo Complex, but export prices increased as overseas market conditions improved. Vinyl chloride monomer shipments also decreased due to lower production volume from scheduled maintenance at the Nanyo Complex. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin shipments were unchanged year-on-year. Moreover, selling prices of PVC products for overseas markets declined due to weaker overseas market conditions.

Cement shipments decreased due to weak demand, despite an increase in domestic selling prices.

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) shipments decreased due to lower production volume during scheduled maintenance at the Nanyo Complex. Market conditions for hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) hardeners declined and shipments decreased, reflecting sluggish global demand.

https://www.pudaily.com/Home/NewsDetails/57837

August 10, 2025

Hanwha TDI Update

Hanwha Resumes TDI Production After Temporary Supply Interruption

PUdaily | Updated: August 8, 2025

According to market sources, Hanwha Solutions has completed repair work at its TDI production facilities and is scheduled to resume full operations on August 8. The temporary disruption was caused by a supply interruption from the synthesis gas plant, which resulted in a partial shutdown of the production line.

During this period, approximately 15% of the plant’s production capacity remained operational. Hanwha confirmed that its August sales volume had already been produced and shipped, and with sufficient inventory on hand, there has been no impact on inventory or sales. The company emphasized that the overall impact on business operations was minimal.

https://www.pudaily.com/Home/NewsDetails/57794