Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • PFAS
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • Rubber Division IEC
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Financial
February 18, 2021 09:30 AM

Huntsman: MDI supplies tight into first quarter of 2021

Urethanes Technology International
Simon Robinson
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Huntsman Corp.
    Huntsman Corp. sees a big potential for the growth of spray urethane insulation if President Joe Biden's administration pushes for more sustainable housing requirements.

    THE WOODLANDS, Texas—Global MDI production is running at about 90 percent of nameplate capacity, and looks likely to stay there for a while, Huntsman Corp. CEO Peter Huntsman told analysts at a recent meeting.

    His company, based in The Woodlands, Texas, is planning to turn around its 500,000 metric ton-per-year plant in Rosenberg, Netherlands, in the first half of 2021, and its Geismar, Texas, facility in the first quarter.

    The company pushed scheduled work at Geismar back from the final quarter of 2020 into the first quarter of 2021 because U.S. demand was so strong, Peter Huntsman said.

    "Our biggest challenge (for 2021) in the first quarter is not going to be around demand and pricing. I feel pretty optimistic on those things," he said. "It's going to be around the timing of the turnaround we have in Geismar. We have a single line and we pushed production into Rosenberg. The issue we have in Rosenberg is that it is a cluster turnaround. We can only operate those turnarounds as fast as the slowest person can come up to speed."

    Although the effects of the work will be about $30 million in the first quarter, and $15 million in the second, he added that earnings before interest, taxes, deprecision and amortization would be a little more than double what it was a year ago.

    Beyond supply and demand issues, Huntsman was optimistic that President Biden's administration will push for more building insulation standards, and that will help the business.

    Tony Hankins, president of polyurethanes, said that Huntsman's spray foam business is growing at around about 25 percent per year.

    "We're making major inroads into Asia with the growth of spray foam Terol in Taiwan," he said.

    The Terol business involves polyols with 60 percent recycled PET bottles, Peter Huntsman added.

    "In 2019, we had zero international EBITDA in that business," he said. "In 2020, even with coronavirus, we made $8 million EBITDA. This year, we are looking at probably doubling that number on the international markets for that insulation."

    Related Article
    Huntsman buying additives maker Gabriel for $250 million
    Huntsman, Icynene-Lapolla building a global force in spray foam
    Huntsman rebrands spray foam businesses
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    EPA targets hazardous emissions from tire rubber mixing
    2
    Meet the world's top 5 tire makers
    3
    Kumho, Synthos partner on neodymium-butadiene rubber
    4
    Goodyear names North America commercial business VP
    5
    On putting forth a clear vision: 5 questions with Conti's Andreas Gerstenberger
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • PFAS
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION