Polyurethane is an important new chemical material, known as the "fifth largest plastic" due to its excellent performance and versatile applications. China's polyurethane industry has gradually developed and grown along with the 100 year history of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Nowadays, from furniture and clothing, to transportation and construction, to aerospace and national defense construction, the ubiquitous polyurethane material not only represents the innovation level of modern chemical industry, but also becomes an important support for China to build a strong manufacturing country.

China's polyurethane industry began in the late 1950s and early 1960s, starting with the production of polyurethane raw materials. In 1958, Dalian Dyeing Plant was the first to successfully develop toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and in 1968, a production unit with an annual output of 500 tons was built, creating conditions for the development of China's polyurethane industry. Subsequently, Jiangsu Research Institute of Chemical Industry and other units successively developed polyether PU soft foam, mixed PU elastomer (MPU), polyurethane coating, polyurethane waterproof materials and other products. In 1976, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Chemical Industry organized the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Chemical Industry and other units to carry out technical research on polyurethane track adhesive. In 1978, it began to be widely promoted and applied in various types of sports venues in China.

After the reform and opening up, China began to introduce advanced TDI production technology and equipment from abroad. In 1983, the annual production of 10000 tons of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and TDI projects invested by the former Ministry of Light Industry in Yantai, Shandong Province were put into operation.

After the 1980s, China began to introduce advanced production technology and equipment for polyurethane raw materials and products from abroad. Domestic scientific research institutions and enterprises also began to develop new technologies for a series of products and special raw materials, such as reaction injection molding, high resilience cold cured foam, polymer polyols, modified MDI, etc. Five kinds of products developed by Liming Research Institute of Chemical Industry, including self skinning steering wheel, filler instrument panel, microporous elastomer mudguard, cold cured high resilience foam, energy absorbing and impact resistant bumper simulator, have filled the gap in China.

After the 1990s, with the sustained and rapid development of China's economy, polyurethane, as a new type of multifunctional polymer material, has been increasingly widely used in fields such as transportation, household appliances, furniture, and metallurgy. The rapid growth of demand has also further stimulated the development of the polyurethane industry. Small soft foam box foaming enterprises are booming. There are more than 100 automatic casting rigid foam insulation production lines, sandwich plate rigid foam casting production lines, continuous bulk flexible foam production lines, and molded flexible foam production lines in the refrigerator production base. There are also more than 10 large polyurethane coatings, adhesives and other manufacturers.

Entering the 21st century, after more than a decade of research and experience accumulation, China has basically mastered the production technology of polyurethane as the main raw material through digestion and absorption of imported technology equipment. With the rapid development of China's refrigerator, freezer, and furniture industries, the application of polyurethane materials has rapidly risen, and China's polyurethane industry has entered a stage of rapid development, becoming one of the fastest growing fields in China's chemical industry. Represented by Yantai Wanhuawei, China's polyurethane production enterprises have begun to make comprehensive breakthroughs in production scale, product types, and technological level. Leading enterprises have entered the international stage, forming a tripartite situation of multinational enterprises, large state-owned enterprises, and private enterprises in the industry.

During the 13th Five Year Plan period, the polyurethane raw material industry has achieved a world leading level in MDI production technology and capacity through nearly 20 years of digestion, absorption, and recreation. The production technology and scientific research innovation capabilities of polyether polyols have continuously improved, and high-end products have emerged, narrowing the gap with advanced foreign levels. In 2019, the consumption of polyurethane products in China was about 11.5 million tons (including solvents), and the export of raw materials has been increasing year by year. It is the world's largest polyurethane production and consumption area, and the market has further matured. The industry has entered a period of technological improvement for high-quality development.

At present, the main raw material production capacity of polyurethane in China exceeds one-third of the global production capacity, becoming the world's largest production base for polyurethane raw materials and products, and also the region with the most comprehensive application of polyurethane in the world. The production and consumption of raw materials and products in the industry continue to grow, and the industrial structure continues to be optimized. The output value of polyurethane raw materials in China is 60 billion yuan, and the output value of products is 320 billion yuan. It produces 95% of refrigerated containers, 70% of toys, and 60% of shoes worldwide.

Currently, the polyurethane industry has entered a new stage with innovation leading and green development as its theme. At present, the production of downstream polyurethane products such as building materials, spandex, synthetic leather, and automobiles in China ranks first in the world. The country is vigorously promoting water-based coatings, implementing new energy-saving policies for buildings, and developing new energy vehicles, which also bring huge market opportunities to the polyurethane industry. The "dual carbon" goal proposed by our country will promote the rapid development of building energy conservation and clean energy industries, and bring new development opportunities for polyurethane insulation materials, coatings, composite materials, adhesives, elastomers, etc.

In April this year, China announced its acceptance of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, strengthening the control of non carbon dioxide greenhouse gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). China is the world's largest producer and user of HFCs, among which HFCs foaming agent is widely used in polyurethane foam industry, and there is a challenge to cut down. At present, companies such as Butian New Materials, Shaoxing Huachuang, and Jiangsu Meiside have increased their research and development of new foaming agents and their corresponding foaming agents, catalysts, and other additives to replace ODS foaming agents in the polyurethane industry, contributing to the improvement of the atmospheric environment.