China Polymeric MDI Exports Surge 56.4% in June 2026

Exports: China polymeric MDI exports in June remained above 100 kT, with strong YoY growth to major markets

In June 2026, China's polymeric MDI exports reached 109 kT, up 56.4% year on year and 8.1% month on month. This is the second consecutive month above the 100-kT threshold since this May, a recent high. Amid slowing domestic demand growth, the export expansion provides a vital outlet to relieve domestic supply-demand pressure.

By destination, exports to the top ten destinations accounted for nearly 70% of China's total export of polymeric MDI. In the first six months of 2026, exports to Top 10 destinations posted robust YoY growth, except Russia.

On the Middle East plant front, two MDI plants in the region have been offline since this March, disrupting local export logistics and creating a supply gap in neighbouring markets. China increased exports to Turkey and other destinations accordingly.

In the US and Europe, Covestro's MDI plant in the US declared force majeure in May 2026 due to upstream gas supply issues, with Dow's US plant also affected. BASF's Geismar and BorsodChem's MDI units in Hungary entered maintenance in July, with some export cargoes used to fill supply gaps or for turnaround stockpiling. In June, China's polymeric MDI exports to North America surged 85.3% month on month.

Imports: Middle East supply still constrained; South Korean producers reduce share to China

On the import side, Middle East polymeric MDI supply and logistics remained constrained by geopolitical factors. China imported only 80 tonnes from Saudi Arabia in June. Imports from South Korea reached 4,453 tonnes, up 1,148 tonnes from May but just 56% of the year-ago level. In H1 2026, South Korea's total Polymeric MDI exports stood at 234,400 tonnes, largely flat year on year, but the share shipped to China dropped to 14.9% from 21.4%.