In 2018, a city in
China’s northern Inner Mongolia Province continues pushing forward the local
fluorochemicals projects and meanwhile introducing projects to expand the
production scale, pushing the importance of this region for the global market.
At
the end of March 2018, Ulanqab, a city in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in
the north of China, announced the construction progress of the 2nd phase Yonghe
fluorochemicals project. Reportedly, the project, funded by Inner Mongolia
Yonghe Fluorochemicals with a total of USD286.79 million, is expected to
produce a succession of fluorochemicals. According to market intelligence firm
CCM, in 2018, almost USD160 million is to be input into the project.
As
part of the project, several production lines of hydrofluoric acid are going to
be constructed, together with HFC-143a, difluorochloromethane,
tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene,
pentafluoroethane, heptafluoropropane, calcium chloride, and incineration
products. To date, the formalities such as projecting, environmental impact
assessment and land planning have been gone through, and the construction has
been started since February 20, 2018. Now the infrastructures for the said 10
production lines are constructed in an orderly way, certain equipment is in
place and investment of USD12.75 million is made.
The
city Ulanqab is introducing projects to expand the local production scale. In
early April 2018, a 10, 000 t/a perfluorocarbon (PFC) project funded by Hong
Kong Ouhua was settled. With a total investment of USD159.33 million, it is to
be constructed in 3 phases. Specifically, the 1st phase with an investment of
USD23.90 million is to build integrated PFE workshop, warehouse and three-waste
treatment station. Now related formalities are under processing and the
preparations are made for construction. In May 2018, the phase will be
constructed and will be put into operation on Aug. 2019. PFC is a new
fluorine-enriched material and is a key product in the fluorochemical business.
It, of strong tolerance to high/ low temperature, heat and erosion, is a very
important polymer composite material and is widely applied in fields of
aerospace, satellite communications and bio-engineering.
So
far, 2 production lines have been put into trial production. It is expected
that the project will enrich Inner Mongolia Yonghe's product portfolio, extend
its industrial chain and improve its position and competitiveness in the
domestic and global fluorochemical industry. Inner Mongolia 3F W Equipment
installation of its 20,000 t/a chlorodifluoroethane (R142b) and
15,000 t/a R152a production lines, with a total investment of USD31.18 million,
is now underway.
After
the fluorochemical projects are put into production, there will be a complete
fluorochemical industry chain in Ulanqab involving the manufacture of
hydrofluoric acid, hydrofluoroalkane, vinylidene fluoride (VDF),
polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), fluororubber, etc.
Conditions favourable
to the development of Ulanqab’s fluorochemical industry
Analyst
CCM demonstrates the conditions that are favourable to the development of
Ulanqab's fluorochemical industry.
Currently,
fluorite reserves of Ulanqab total 28.38 million tonnes. Abundant fluorite
reserves will lay a solid foundation for Ulanqab's entrance into sectors of
basic fluorochemicals, ozone depleting substance substitutes (ODS) substitutes,
high-end fluoropolymers and fine fluorochemicals to achieve a shift from the
manufacture of primary and medium products to premium end products.
Secondly,
Ulanqab will become an important fluorochemical production and processing base
in northern China by developing a relevant circular economy and
industrial cluster, taking the lead in fluorochemical capacity and product
upgrading. Now, there are 6 fluorochemical producers in this region, capable to
annually produce 224,000 tonnes of 14 types of products.
About the article
The
information for this article comes from CCM, China’s leading market
intelligence provider for the fields of agriculture, chemicals, food and feed.
Get
regular and exclusive information on China’s fluoride market by subscribing to
CCM’s monthly published China Fluoride News.
Take
part in the discussion by joining our regular groups on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Follow
CCM on Twitter: @CCM_Kcomber