Pyromellitic Dianhydride (PMDA) is ideally-suited as a low-cost thermal curative for epoxy resins and as a co-monomer for polyimide synthesis. It was originally synthesized by a handful of Japanese and Western manufacturers including Daicel, DuPont, Du-Pont Toray, Jayhawk, Lonza, and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical. However, Pyromellitic Dianhydride has undergone a major shift in the manufacturing base and market dynamics over the past 5 years. China is now the major player, but volatility in raw material prices and other costs has led to a parade of suppliers challenging the security of supply decisions for customers.
Changes in the State of the PMDA Supply Chain
The traditional synthesis route uses Durene as the base raw material. Durene is tied to both petroleum and coal tar feedstocks. It remains in demand for other downstream products, but pricing has ebbed and flowed over the years. The volatility of Durene and other essential materials has forced many of these familiar suppliers to exit Pyromellitic Dianhydride manufacturing. They have relinquished their positions to an influx of Chinese manufacturers eager to gain a foothold in the fine chemical space. Process safety, alternative synthesis routes, and product quality have created a bumpy road for these new entrants.
Today’s landscape for Pyromellitic Dianhydride manufacturing consists of approximately a dozen Chinese companies. These manufacturers supply tens of thousands of tons of high-quality Pyromellitic Dianhydride to the marketplace every year. However, Durene volatility remains an issue. Over the last 18-24 months, Pyromellitic Dianhydride pricing increased two- to three-fold. In some cases, supply was on allocation. Pricing has slowly but steadily declined in recent months, as more capacity has either been announced or already added by existing and startup suppliers.
How is an epoxy or polyimide producer expected to manage their cost position in the face of such volatility? When Pyromellitic Dianhydride pricing perilously approached that of more exclusive dianhydrides, customers were tempted to change formulations. Now that current pricing has subsided, these concerns have diminished, but customers remain uncertain about the security of supply and reliability on a single Pyromellitic Dianhydride manufacturer.
The answer lies in the qualification of, and sourcing from, multiple suppliers to leverage both pricing and availability of the product. This represents the new paradigm for Pyromellitic Dianhydride customers. Additionally, trading companies have stepped in to serve as a buffer to these sourcing challenges, offering value-added services including importation, custom-packaging and safety stocks.
Pyromellitic Dianhydride from Jayhawk Chemicals
Jayhawk offers Pyromellitic Dianhydride on a trade sales basis. Product quality is assured for reliable performance in a range of epoxy and polyimide applications. Ready access to inventory and a host of packaging options are available every day. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
