Beijing - To tie in with the Chinese government's concept of environmental protection for a 'Green Olympics,' the chemical industry around the region where the games are being held is quietly retiring from sight, as the Beijing Olympic Games officially opens on in less than 20 days.
The polyurethane industry is heavily affected, said a news release from chemicals market website TooToo.com.
"As the embargo and the cut-off orders are issued in various cities, companies that produce basic raw materials for polyurethane, foam, flexible materials, adhesives and other production have already suspended production in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan region," the TooToo announcement said.
TDI (toluene diisocyanate) is a major raw material for making polyurethanes, although producer ST Canghua Group has not stopped producing it and is operating a routine maintenance programme, the statement said.
According to Tootoo.com, these materials are hard to move around, as there are severe restrictions on the transport of dangerous goods in the six Olympic cities, including Beijing. Consequently, TDI cannot be exported as normal, resulting in a shutdown in some difficult to reach places, and the suspension of some trade businesses, the announcement said.
Also, liquid chlorine and caustic soda in the chlor-alkali industry are considered dangerous goods, and cannot be stocked in large quantities, TooToo continued, adding that some propylene oxide enterprises in Tianjin and Hebei Province will limit production of raw materials for a short period, while some propylene oxide producers in Shandong will cut their operating rate.
Officials from Jiangsu Tianyin Chemical Industry Co. Ltd told Tootoo.com that companies cannot maintain the supplies of certain chemical products, especially ones such as isocyanates and acrylic monomers, for Beijing, Tianjin, and other Olympic cities.
"
