YongNong to launch production of intermediates for its 50,000-ton L-glufosinate capacity

Recently, Chinese agrochemical company Ningxia YongNong’s EIA of the L-glufosinate technical and formulation project was announced for public comment.

According to the EIA, the company previously planned an extension to its L-glufosinate industrial chain. However, in consideration of the unstable market supply of phosphorus trichloride and phosphorus oxychloride, which are the raw materials for production of the intermediate methyldiethoxyphosphine, may affect the stable production run; also, the approved methyldiethoxyphosphine capacity is not enough to match the production capacity of 50,000 tons of L-glufosinate. Therefore, the company revised its plan and decided to expand its L-glufosinate industrial chain. After the implementation of the project, the company will be able to form a complete industrial chain, covering phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus oxychloride, methyldiethoxyphosphine, glufosinate and L-glufosinate. The L-glufosinate project previously approved will no longer be executed.

The project takes a total investment of RMB2.4 billion yuan, which includes RMB187 million yuan in environmental protection accounting for 7.79% of the total investment. Project contents are: Annual output of 43,000 tons of phosphorus trichloride, 1,000 tons of phosphorus oxychloride, 15,000 tons of methyldiethoxyphosphine, 206,000 tons of glufosinate 98% technical and formulations, to be implemented in 3 phases. 

Ningxia YongNong’s existing facilities

Since YongNong’s landing in the New Chemical Materials Park of Ningdong Energy-Chemical Industry Base in 2018, Ningxia YongNong has in succession launched 3 projects, namely: 1) Annual 27,000-ton high-efficiency Pesticide Technical and Intermediates Project in December 2018; 2) Diquat bromide 40% technical concentrate and product series in November 2021; 3) L-glufosinate 98% technical and formulation series in December 2021.

YongNong Biosciences is the investor of Ningxia YongNong. After years of production run and marketing of agrochemicals, the company has formed its product range dominated by glufosinate, supported by other insecticides, fungicides and herbicides; the company has for long engaged itself in production of a variety of pesticide technical products, such as picloram, clopyralid, diquat, desmedipham, phenmedipham, ethofumesate, L-glufosinate, etoxazole and bifenazate, which have been granted registration in Canada, the United States, Brazil, the European Union, Malaysia and South Korea.