Published November 1973
Commercial production of isocyanates in the United States totalled 511 million lb in 1970 and 587 million lb in 1971. If a growth of 15 to 20% per year is assumed, the production in 1973 is estimated to be 776 to 846 billion lb. The total production capacity in the United States, as compiled from news releases in the trade journals, is 1,230 million lb/yr; however, this is probably overstated. Total proruction capacity in Western Europe and Japan as compiled in reports in trade journals is 1,267 million lb/yr, which is also inflated.
At least 70% of the production is TDI (toluene diisocyanate) in its various grades and adducts; probably over 20% of the production is PMPPI (polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate) or its related isocyanate, MDI (methylene diphenylisocyanate). Other isocyanates constitute less than 10%. This order will remain the same in the future but the percentage of TDI may decrease, and those of PMPPI/MDI and others may increase.
