Toluene Diisocyanate Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Toluene Diisocyanate Prices Worldwide
See monthly TDI prices in 5 locations: US, China, S. America, Europe, Middle East, SE Asia, C. Europe. Also check TDI price history since 2007 and forecasts. Subscribe now to Intratec Primary Commodity Prices and gain access to current prices of 244 commodities, including TDI.
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Data Legend. The TDI price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 7 locations, as follows:
- US: transaction, fob
- China: transaction, fob
- S. America: transaction, cif, Brazil
- Europe: transaction, fob, Belgium
- Middle East: transaction, cif, Turkey
- SE Asia: transaction, cif, India
- C. Europe: transaction, fob, Hungary
Data Use. TDI prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 244 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Price Dynamics. The Toluene Diisocyanate price in United States decreased during September 2018 to 3,090 USD per metric ton, which represents a decline of 6% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Toluene Diisocyanate prices in United States increased significantly by 7%. Meanwhile, in China, the average price of Toluene Diisocyanate amounted to 2,600 USD per metric ton, from 2,790 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Toluene Diisocyanate price in China is 18% lower than the price one month before.
The price of Toluene Diisocyanate in Brazil declined considerably throughout September 2018, reaching 3,370 USD per metric ton. The price in Brazil is 7% lower than the average price in the previous month and 15% higher than the average price one year before. In contrast, Toluene Diisocyanate prices in Belgium decreased significantly during September 2018, reaching 2,530 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 19% from the previous month’s price and a decline of 8% from the previous year’s price.
The Toluene Diisocyanate prices in Turkey experienced a significant decline of 360 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 3,240 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Turkey meant a decrease of 10% on a monthly basis and a decrease of 6% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in September 2018, the Toluene Diisocyanate price in India witnessed a decline of 340 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 3,320 USD per metric ton. The September 2018 price in India is 3% higher than the price one year before.
In Hungary, the average price of Toluene Diisocyanate was 2,480 USD per metric ton on September 2018 – a sharp decrease of 580 USD per metric ton, or 19%, compared with the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, the Toluene Diisocyanate price in Hungary is 20% lower than the price one year before.
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About Toluene Diisocyanate. Toluene Diisocyanate (a.k.a. TDI) is an organic compound, in the aromatic isocyanate class. It is a colorless oily liquid, with a sharp, pungent odor, soluble in acetone, benzene, and other organic solvents. TDI readily reacts with water at ambient temperature, forming insoluble urea compounds and a large amount of carbon dioxide gas. Like other isocyanates, TDI can be classified as a potential human carcinogen. The main effects of hazardous exposures are occupational asthma and other lung problems, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. It is largely produced, accounting for 34.1% of the global isocyanate market in 2000.
TDI is a key aromatic isocyanate with formula CH3C6H3(NCO)2. More specifically, 2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI - two out of the six possible isomers - are widely used in the polymer industry, mainly in the production of flexible polyurethane foams. Industrial TDI manufacture is primarily based on toluene raw material. The most common method of preparing TDI on a commercial scale involves the nitration of toluene to dinitrotoluene (DNT), which is hydrogenated to toluene diamine (TDA) that is finally treated with phosgene. TDI is produced mainly in three forms: as an 80:20 mixture of 2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI, referred to as TDI (80/20), as a 65:35 mixture of such isomers, known as TDI (65/35), and as pure 2,4-TDI.
Contact of this product with water should be avoided during handling, storage, and transportation. TDI reacts readily with water, at room temperature, forming both an insoluble urea compound and large quantities of carbon dioxide gas, which can create a serious pressure hazard and cause container rupture. To protect TDI from atmospheric moisture, all containers should have blankets with a dry inert gas pad. Storage temperature should be above freeze point (approximately 14 °C [57 °F]) because if TDI freezes, the 2,4- and 2,6-isomers may separate. Prolonged storage of TDI at higher temperatures than 40 °C (104 °F) may cause the NCO content and viscosity to vary from product specifications. TDI is transported in railroad tank cars, tank trucks, tanks in ships, containers, and drums. They are stored in steel tanks and processed in steel equipment. For long-term storage, stainless steel is recommended.
Toluene Diisocyanate is typically manufactured via the reaction of phosgene and toluene diamine. Production pathways may differ by integrating toluene diamine production and also its precursor, dinitrotoluene. TDI can also be produced by a non-phosgene process in which it reacts with dimethyl carbonate. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Toluene Diisocyanate are listed below.
- Dinitrotoluene (reductive carbonylation process),
- Dinitrotoluene + phosgene (liquid-phase phosgenation process),
- Dinitrotoluene + chlorine (liquid or gas-phase phosgenation process)
- Toluene (reductive or oxidative carbonylation process),
- Toluene + chlorine (liquid or gas-phase phosgenation process)
The uses and applications of Toluene Diisocyanate may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Toluene Diisocyanate are 100% 2,4-isomer solution and 80% or 65% 2,4-isomer solutions mixed with 2,6-isomer.
Toluene Diisocyanate is mainly used in the production of flexible polyurethane foams, including furniture, bedding, and carpet underlay, as well as packaging applications. It is also used in the production of coatings; sealants; adhesives; elastomers; automobile parts; and as cross-linking agent for nylon 6.
