In the Chlor-Alkali (CA) segment, thyssenkrupp nucera secured new orders worth €70 million in the first quarter of 2025/26 (previous year: €89 million). A major order signed in December 2025 for a new construction project in the Middle East worth a high double-digit million euro amount will be booked in the second quarter. According to the company, this is the largest new chlor-alkali construction order in the company's history.
The CA order backlog as of December 31, 2025, was €302 million. Sales in the segment reached €70 million (previous year: €108 million), with EBIT of €8 million (previous year: €16 million). For the year as a whole, the company expects sales in the chlor-alkali business to be between €320 million and €400 million.
Plant in South Korea: Integration of electrolysis and MDI production
At the same time, Kumho Mitsui Chemicals (KMCI) has commissioned a chlor-alkali plant with e-BiTAC v7 generation electrolysers in Yeosu, South Korea. The plant, designed and supplied by thyssenkrupp nucera, has a chlorine production capacity of 60,000 t/a.
The chlorine produced is used for the manufacture of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and replaces previous imports. In addition, thin brine from the MDI process is recycled in the electrolysis process. This integrates a side stream into the production cycle, which reduces wastewater volumes and contributes to compliance with environmental regulations.
Relevance for coating technology
MDI is a key starting material for polyurethanes, which are used in paints, coatings, and binder systems, among other things. Polyurethane coatings are used in corrosion protection, mechanical and plant engineering, and the automotive industry. Chlorine and other products of chlor-alkali electrolysis are also important precursors for epoxy resins, additives, and intermediates in coating chemistry. Investments in chlor-alkali infrastructure therefore have an indirect impact on availability, depth of value creation, and security of supply along the coating value chain.
Focus on technology portfolio and R&D
Group-wide sales fell by 44 percent to €147 million in the first quarter of 2025/26. EBIT was €–4 million. At the same time, the company increased its research and development expenditure by 31 percent to €9 million. Among other things, advanced BM and BiTAC electrolysers and concepts for high-temperature and high-pressure electrolysis were presented.
The current projects underscore the importance of the chlor-alkali business as a stabilizing segment in the electrolysis specialist's portfolio—especially against the backdrop of fluctuating project awards in the green hydrogen sector.