ISPA issues foam warning
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 18, 2007
Alexandria, Va. — The temporary closing of a plant that produces a key ingredient in polyurethane foam could disrupt foam supplies to bedding producers.
The International Sleep Products Assn. delivered the bad news to its members in a breaking news alert last week. ISPA said that a mechanical failure has closed BASF's plant in Geismar, La. That plant is one of three commercial sources in the country for TDI, a key ingredient in polyurethane foam, ISPA said.
The plant will be closed for at least 30 days, ISPA said.
Most U.S. polyurethane foam producers buy at least some of their TDI from BASF, ISPA noted.
"Industry experts note that the outage occurs at a time when TDI supplies are already tight, with both of the remaining plants operating at high capacity and one of them reportedly due for a long-delayed maintenance shutdown in March," ISPA said. "Industry representatives expect this development may disrupt mattress foam shipments, possibly resulting in product allocations and delivery delays. They are also concerned that the remaining TDI producers may raise their prices in response to the situation."
ISPA also said the outage "is expected to have a national impact. Disruptions are expected to continue even after the BASF plant resumes production because it will take several weeks for the TDI market to return to equilibrium."
