Summary: Liaoning Longtian has built up a 1,000 t/a mesotrione TC production line. Previously, the company put into operation production capacity of 3,000 t/a 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid.

Early March, news from Liaoning Longtian Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. (Liaoning Longtian) came that in late Feb., the company built up a 1,000 t/a mesotrione TC production line in the plant in Fluorine Industry Development Zone, Fuxin City, Liaoning Province. The plant also boasts production capacity of 3,000 t/a 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid, 400 t/a 2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)benzoic acid and 4,000 t/a methyl p-tolyl sulfone. That is to say, Liaoning Longtian has shaped a huge advantage in mesotrione TC business, as methyl p-tolyl sulfone is a key raw material for 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid and 2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)benzoic acid, while 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid is a main upstream intermediate for mesotrione.

Established in June 2018, Liaoning Longtian mainly engages in R&D, manufacturing and sales of fine chemicals like pesticides. So far the company has planned a Phase I 12,700 t/a fine chemical project and Phase II 5,600 t/a pesticides/APIs and intermediates project. Details of designed products and capacity are as follows:

• Phase I: 3,000 t/a 2-Nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid, 400 t/a 2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)benzoic acid and 4,000 t/a methyl p-tolyl sulfone, the three put into use already; 3,000 t/a 2-chloro-5-(chloromethyl)pyridine (cancelled), 300 t/a methyl 2-(methoxyimino)-2-o-tolylacetate, 1,000 t/a 2-coumaranone and 1,000 t/a p-fluoroacetophenone.
• Phase II: 1,000 t/a Mesotrione TC (built up), 1,000 t/a chlorantraniliprole TC, 600 t/a methoxyamine hydrochloride and 3,000 t/a tosyl chloride.

 

Mesotrione is one of star herbicides in China's pesticide market in recent years; domestic production capacity of this product grew quickly. Besides Liaoning Longtian, companies like Zhejiang Zhongshan Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Youjia Crop Protection Co., Ltd., Zhangye Dagong Pesticide Chemistry Co., Ltd., Limin Chemical Co., Ltd., Shangyu Nutrichem Co., Ltd., Hubei Guangfulin Biological Products Co., Ltd. and Shenyang Sciencreat Chemicals Co., Ltd. also hold mesotrione TC capacity. Many more are investing in this product and accordingly, fiercer competition is expected in the future.