Hyosung TNC launches $1 billion bio-BDO plant in Vietnam — Korea Herald

South Korean company Hyosung TNC has begun commercial production at a $1 billion bio-BDO plant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The facility has become part of an integrated production chain that converts sugarcane-based feedstock into spandex, Korea Herald reports.

The plant can produce 50,000 tonnes of bio-BDO per year. Its infrastructure allows capacity to be expanded to 200,000 tonnes annually as demand grows, Hyosung TNC said.

Sugarcane feedstock

Bio-BDO is produced by fermenting sugars obtained from sugarcane, replacing fossil feedstocks used in conventional BDO production. The origin of the cane and the traceability of its supply are verified under the VIVE Sustainable Program.

The new plant supplies bio-BDO to a Hyosung TNC facility in Dong Nai. There, the substance is processed into polytetramethylene ether glycol, a key component of spandex. The material is then sent to a nearby facility, where it is used to produce regen Bio spandex.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Materials for several industries

The company is targeting the integrated production at demand for premium bio-textile materials in Europe and the United States. Hyosung TNC said it can adjust production volumes in line with orders from international fashion brands.

According to the company, bio-spandex for sportswear, swimwear and denim has elasticity and durability comparable to conventional spandex. Hyosung TNC also plans to supply BDO for thermoplastic polyurethane in automotive interiors, biodegradable PBAT resins, shoe soles and industrial compounds.

The company aims to make the Vietnamese plant a production base for biomaterials for several industries.