my country’s TODI export volume grows, polyurethane elastomer is its largest demand end

Dimethyldiphenyl diisocyanate (TODI), also known as 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenyl diisocyanate and ortho-toluene diisocyanate, has a molecular formula of C16H12N2O2 and is an organic chemical raw material. TODI appears as a colorless crystalline solid with no special odor. It is soluble in carbon tetrachloride, acetone, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, benzene and kerosene, and is insoluble in water. TODI is widely used and has broad application prospects in oil seal materials, synthetic resins, engineering plastics, polyurethane elastomers, medicine and other fields.

In terms of production technology, TODI usually uses phosgene and o-toluidine as the main raw materials, and the finished product is obtained through molecular rearrangement reaction. At present, my country’s mid-to-low-end TODI production technology has matured, driving its rapid expansion of production capacity and continued growth in output. Compared with Japan, my country’s high-end TODI production technology is relatively backward, and local companies still need to increase investment in research and development.

According to the “2023-2028 China Dimethyldiphenyl Diisocyanate (TODI) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report released by the Industrial Research Center 》 shows that in terms of application fields, TODI is an organic chemical raw material that is widely used in many fields, with polyurethane elastomer (TPU) being its largest demand end. Compared with ordinary rubber and plastics, polyurethane elastomers have the advantages of green environmental protection, good processing performance, and high/low temperature resistance. They are widely used in automobile manufacturing, pipes, shoe materials, medical equipment and other fields. Polyurethane elastomer produced based on TODI can be used as sealing material. Driven by market demand, the development space of my country’s TODI industry continues to expand.

In terms of the import and export market, my country’s TODI output is showing a growing trend, and the products are sold overseas while meeting the needs of the local market. According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, my country’s TODI export volume will reach 80.4 tons in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 46.4%; import volume will reach 10.8 tons. At present, my country’s high-end TODI is highly dependent on imports. In the future, with the continuous breakthroughs in technological level, the process of domestic substitution of high-end TODI in my country will be further accelerated.

In terms of market competition, Japan is the world’s largest TODI producer, and Japan Soda Co., Ltd. and Japan NOK Corporation are the world’s leading companies. There are many TODI manufacturers in our country, the market is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, and the industry concentration is low. Shanghai Yien Chemical Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan Xinweiye Chemical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Brown Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Jixiang Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Weiwan Sealing Technology Co., Ltd. are major players in my country’s TODI market.

          Industry analysts said that TODI, as an important raw material for polyurethane elastomer, has strong market demand. In recent years, my country’s mid-to-low-end TODI production has been sufficient, and the products have been sold overseas while meeting the needs of the local market. At present, compared with Japan, my country’s high-end TODI production technology is relatively backward, and the market is in short supply. It is expected that in the future, with technological upgrading and market demand growth, my country’s TODI industry will gradually develop in a high-end direction.