Gasgoo Munich- Covestro officially announced on January 30 that it has successfully completed an expansion of its toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production facilities at its Shanghai integrated site. The upgrade lifts the site's annual TDI capacity to 370,000 tonnes from 310,000 tonnes — a jump of nearly 20%.
Image source: Covestro
The move is aimed at meeting sustained market demand for TDI. A key ingredient in flexible polyurethane foam, TDI is widely used in furniture, mattresses, and automotive seats — directly impacting end-user comfort. The completed expansion will allow Covestro to provide a more stable and reliable supply to customers across the Asia-Pacific region.
Located in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, the Shanghai integrated site is Covestro's largest production facility worldwide. Rather than building a new production line, the company achieved the capacity boost by optimizing existing processes and infrastructure — a more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly approach to expansion.
"This investment underscores our firm commitment to supporting customer growth in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China and neighboring markets," said Zhong Xiaobin, Head of Sales for Functional Materials in Asia-Pacific at Covestro. By expanding TDI capacity in Shanghai, the company can ensure a reliable supply to meet rising demand while solidifying its position as a preferred partner in the furniture and automotive sectors.
Hermann-Josef Doerholt, Global Head of Covestro's Functional Materials business unit, noted that the milestone reflects the company's strategy of growing through smart, efficient investments to maximize customer value. The move further strengthens Covestro's global TDI production network, which includes world-class plants in Dormagen, Germany, and Baytown, Texas, ensuring reliable service for customers across all major regions.
