Kumho Mitsui Chemicals (KMC) is significantly boosting the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) production capacity at its Yeosu facility in South Korea.

The company has approved a 100,000-ton per year expansion, bringing total annual output from 610,000 tons to 710,000 tons.  

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2026 and is expected to be finished by May 2027.  

MDI is an essential ingredient in the creation of polyurethane, a versatile material utilized across various sectors including automotive components, furniture, bedding, adhesives, elastic fibers, and insulation for buildings and appliances.

The demand for MDI globally is projected to rise by approximately 5% annually, driven by new policies promoting residential insulation and overall economic expansion.  

This expansion integrates existing recycling infrastructure installed during a previous capacity upgrade, which helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of MDI produced, boosts energy efficiency, and ensures a more sustainable production process.  

Following a separate 200,000-ton capacity increase that brought the plant to full operation in 2024, this new investment strengthens KMC’s supply capabilities for both commodity polymeric MDI used in insulation and high-performance MDI tailored for flame-retardant applications and the mobility industry.