BASF has begun trial operations at its 400,000 t/y mononitrobenzene plant at Chongqing, in western China. The new facility will feed the group's integrated MDI complex at the same location. Investment costs for the entire project are pegged at €860 million.

In addition to mononitrobenzene, the site will produce 300,000 t/y of aniline, 400,000 t/y of crude MDI and will also have an MDI splitter with a capacity of 400,000 t/y.

Located in the Chongqing Changshou Chemical Industrial Park, the complex, initially planned to go on stream in 2010, took three and a half years to be approved by Chinese authorities. A planned start-up in 2014 was delayed further by BASF's differences with officials over an increase in gas prices.

MDI is an important component for polyurethanes. BASF is building a new Polyurethane Solutions Systems House at Chongqing.