BASF Reveals New MDI Plant In Louisiana

BASF Corp. planned its new MDI plant inauguration celebration in Geismar, La. in November. Representing a nearly $1 billion investment, the event markes the completion of BASF’s multi-year MDI expansion project and reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to U.S. manufacturing, Louisiana manufacturing, and the North American polyurethanes market.

BASF broke ground on the third and final phase of the methylene diphenyl disocyanate (MDI) expansion project at its Verbund site in Geismar in early 2023. The company statedit will increase production capacity to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year by the middle of the decade to support the ongoing growth of its North American MDI customers.

The investment for the final expansion phase amounted to $780 million. Including the first and second phases, the investment volume totals around $1 billion, making the MDI expansion project BASF’s largest wholly owned investment in North America.

Kicked off in 2018, the expansion project followed a staggered approach. First, a new MDI synthesis unit was put in operation in October 2020. The second phase, which started operations in 2021, expanded several existing upstream units. The third and final phase added new upstream units and a splitter.