In early-June, Fengshan Group Co., Ltd. (Fengshan Group) introduced the product schemes of the project of fine chemicals such as 1,600 t/a 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid (hereinafter referred as to the fine chemical project A) and the project of fine chemicals such as 10,000 t/a 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride (hereinafter referred to as the fine chemical project B) responsible by Sichuan Fengshan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Sichuan Fengshan), a subsidiary of Fengshan Group. 2 pesticide intermediates are engaged in the fine chemical project A such as 1,600 t/a 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid and 750 t/a 1,3-cyclohexanedione; and 7 engaged in the fine chemical project B such as 10,000 t/a 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride, 2,000 t/a 2,4-dichloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride, 2,000 t/a 2-chloronicotinic acid, 1,000 t/a 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine, 3,000 t/a (R)-(+)-2-(4-Hydroxy Phenoxy)propionic acid, 1,000 t/a methyl (R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionate and 1,000 t/a ethyl (2R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propanoate.
Fengshan Group is one of the key pesticide producers in China, with its production and operation scales at the forefront. As for production scale, Fengshan Group has had production capacities of pesticide TC and formulation products in its headquarters located in Dafenggang Petrochemical Industrial Park, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, but most of basic raw materials and pesticide intermediates are outsourced.
To be more detailed, by mid-June, Fengshan Group had put the line of 6,000 t/a trifluralin TC, 1,300 t/a quizalofop-P-ethyl TC, 1,200 t/a nicosulfuron TC, 11,000 t/a chlorpyrifos TC and 20,000 t/a pesticide formulation in its headquarters into production. And the newly-built production facilities of 700 t/a cyhalofop-butyl TC and 300 t/a clodinafop-propargyl TC were put into trial run on 30 Jan., 2021.
Pesticide intermediate is classified as fine chemical, and a key raw material to produce pesticides. High-quality and low-cost production of pesticide intermediate guarantees the development of pesticides.
Fengshan Group said that it spent most in outsourcing basic raw material and intermediates, the supply of some of which are restricted due to environmental factor and production capacity of upstream petrochemical industry. Besides, the seasonal change in demand for pesticide formulation leads to the supply shortage or surged price of some intermediates, having impact on the company's business. Therefore, the company decided to form production capacity of pesticide intermediate to expand the advantage of industrial chain.
The insufficient areas in its headquarters and the difficulties to gain administrative approval to build pesticide intermediate project in its headquarters restricted Fengshan Group's move to form production capacity of pesticide intermediate. That's why Fengshan Group established Sichuan Fengshan in Xinqiao Park, Guang'an Economic and Technological Development Zone, Sichuan Province and made Sichuan Fengshan responsible for building a new production plant there. The fine chemical project A and fine chemical project B are both key projects in accordance with Fengshan Group's strategic development plan of pesticide intermediate.
2 pesticide intermediates are engaged in the fine chemical project A, such as 1,600 t/a 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid and 750 t/a 1,3-cyclohexanedione. Both of them are conductive to the production of mesotrione TC.
7 pesticide intermediates are engaged in the fine chemical project B, such as such as 10,000 t/a 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride, 2,000 t/a 2,4-dichloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride, 2,000 t/a 2-chloronicotinic acid, 1,000 t/a 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine, 3,000 t/a (R)-(+)-2-(4-Hydroxy Phenoxy)propionic acid, 1,000 t/a methyl (R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionate and 1,000 t/a ethyl (2R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propanoate. 4-Chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride and 2,4-dichloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride are both significant intermediates for the productions of trifluralin TC and prodiamine TC; 2-chloronicotinic acid is used to produce nicosulfuron TC and diflufenican TC; and (R)-(+)-2-(4-Hydroxy Phenoxy)propionic acid is an important raw material for quizalofop-P-ethyl and clodinafop-propargyl TC.
Besides these 2 projects, Sichuan Fengshan has planned to launch a pesticide TC project to build the production capacities of 12,000 t/a trifluralin TC, 800 t/a prodiamine TC and 2,000 t/a mesotrione TC. In addition to meet the production demand of pesticide TC, the rest pesticide intermediates involved in Sichuan Fengshan's projects will be for sale.
Adding the production capacity of pesticide intermediate will make Fengshan Group's production plan more flexible and controllable, thus increasing the company's ability in order delivery, stability of product quality and core competitiveness.
Notably, the headquarters of Fengshan Group had once suspended due to "3.21 explosion" and the maintenance of the heat supply company in the park from 18 April, 2019 to 25 Oct., 2019. Therefore, the production capacities to be formed in the new production plant ran by Sichuan Fengshan will be good for Fengshan Group to spread risk and reduce impact from the suspension if accidents happen in the places where one of its production plant located.