Huntsman Marks Grand Opening of Operational Unit Expansion in Petfurdo, Hungary

Rhea-AI Summary

Huntsman (NYSE: HUN) marked the grand opening of an expanded Performance Products manufacturing unit in Petfurdo, Hungary on March 18, 2026. Operations began earlier this year, increasing global capacity for JEFFCAT® amine catalysts used in polyurethane, coatings, metalworking and electronics.

The expansion, supported by a Hungarian government investment grant, aims to boost manufacturing flexibility, next‑generation products and sustainability efforts to meet rising demand for energy‑saving, low‑emission solutions.

News Market Reaction – HUN

-3.76%

-3.76% Session close to close

In the Mar 19 session, HUN declined 3.76%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights Huntsman’s continued investment in its Performance Products segment, ex...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Huntsman’s continued investment in its Performance Products segment, expanding amine catalyst capacity in Petfurdo to serve polyurethane and other end markets. The project underscores a focus on energy savings, lower emissions and manufacturing flexibility. In context of recent earnings headwinds and operational outages, investors may watch how this new capacity contributes to utilization, margins and demand for cleaner, more efficient solutions over time.

Key Figures

Industry experience: over 50 years

1 metrics

Industry experience over 50 years Experience in urethane chemicals

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 17 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Feb 17	Dividend declaration	Positive	+8.6%	Declared $0.0875 per share common cash dividend and set 2026 meeting.
Feb 17	Earnings release	Negative	+8.6%	Reported Q4 2025 revenue, net loss and lower profitability across segments.
Jan 07	Earnings scheduling	Neutral	+5.6%	Announced timing and access details for Q4 2025 earnings call.
Dec 29	Leadership change	Neutral	+0.0%	Appointed new Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary.
Dec 01	Outlook update	Negative	-0.8%	Unplanned Rotterdam outage pushed Q4 EBITDA to low end of guidance range.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent news often saw positive or neutral price reactions, including to dividends and earnings, with limited downside on operational setbacks.

Recent Company History

Over the past several months, Huntsman has reported softer financial performance but resilient cash generation. Fourth quarter 2025 results included a net loss and weaker pricing, yet shares rose following both the earnings release and dividend declaration on Feb. 17, 2026. Earlier, the company flagged a Rotterdam outage that pushed Q4 EBITDA to the low end of guidance, with only a small share-price decline. Governance and leadership updates, such as the new General Counsel appointment, saw minimal market impact.

Key Terms

amine catalyst, polyurethane, urethane chemicals

3 terms

amine catalyst technical

"One of the world's leading amine catalyst producers with over 50 years of experience"

An amine catalyst is a nitrogen-containing molecule that speeds up chemical reactions without being used up, often by helping bonds form or break more easily. For investors, these catalysts matter because they can lower production costs, reduce waste and energy use, and enable new manufacturing routes for drugs, materials or chemicals—similar to a skilled foreperson who makes a factory run faster and more efficiently without changing the final product.

polyurethane technical

"technologies for the polyurethane, coatings, metalworking and electronics industries."

Polyurethane is a versatile synthetic material that can be made into flexible foam, rigid insulation, coatings or adhesives — think of it as a plastic that can behave like a soft mattress or a hard, protective shell. It matters to investors because demand and margins track major industries (construction, automotive, furniture, appliances) and feedstock costs and environmental rules can quickly change manufacturers’ profitability, so shifts in polyurethane markets often signal broader industrial trends.

urethane chemicals technical

"over 50 years of experience in urethane chemicals, Huntsman has seen demand"

Urethane chemicals are the raw ingredients and intermediate compounds used to make urethane and polyurethane materials—think of them as the “bricks and glue” that form foams, coatings, adhesives and sealants. Investors care because these chemicals underpin products in construction, automotive, furniture and packaging, so changes in raw material costs, supply disruptions or safety and environmental rules can quickly affect manufacturers’ margins and sales.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) today celebrated the grand opening of its expanded Performance Products manufacturing facility in Petfurdo, Hungary, where operations were initiated at the beginning of this year. The successful completion of this investment increases Huntsman's global capacity providing greater flexibility, and innovative technologies for the polyurethane, coatings, metalworking and electronics industries.

One of the world's leading amine catalyst producers with over 50 years of experience in urethane chemicals, Huntsman has seen demand for its JEFFCAT® amine catalysts continue to grow across the globe. These specialty amines are used in everyday applications such as automobile seats, mattresses and energy‑efficient insulation for buildings. Huntsman's latest product portfolio supports industry efforts to save energy, lower emissions and reduce odors in consumer products.

"This new capacity builds on our long‑standing investments in Performance Products and strengthens our ability to support customers in fast‑growing and evolving markets," said Jan Buberl, President, Huntsman Performance Products. "The expansion unit enhances our manufacturing flexibility, enables next‑generation products and reflects our continued focus on sustainability, operational excellence and long‑term value creation. As demand grows for cleaner, more efficient solutions, this investment positions us to respond with speed, innovation and reliability."

The project, supported by an investment grant from the Hungarian government, reflects the community's confidence in Huntsman and our shared commitment to future growth. Government officials joined the celebration to mark this investment in the region's long‑term success.

"We greatly appreciate the support of the Hungarian government and value the strong partnership that helped bring this project to completion," Buberl added. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration as we advance economic development and manufacturing excellence in Hungary."

JEFFCAT^® is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries.

About Huntsman:
Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of diversified chemical products with 2025 revenues of approximately $6 billion from our continuing operations. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 55 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 25 countries and employ approximately 6,000 associates within our continuing operations. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com.

Social Media:
X: http://www.x.com/Huntsman_Corp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman

Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.

 

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SOURCE Huntsman Corporation

FAQ

What did Huntsman (HUN) open in Petfurdo, Hungary on March 18, 2026?

Huntsman opened an expanded Performance Products manufacturing unit in Petfurdo, Hungary to increase production capacity. According to the company, operations began earlier in 2026 and the unit supports JEFFCAT® amine catalyst production for polyurethane and related industries.

How does the Petfurdo expansion affect Huntsman's JEFFCAT® catalyst supply for HUN investors?

The expansion increases Huntsman's global capacity and manufacturing flexibility for JEFFCAT® amine catalysts. According to the company, the new unit enables next‑generation products and faster response to rising demand across automotive, insulation and other markets.

Did the Hungarian government support Huntsman's Petfurdo expansion announced March 18, 2026?

Yes, the project received an investment grant from the Hungarian government, signaling local support. According to the company, government officials joined the opening to mark the investment and partnership for regional economic development.

What industries will benefit from Huntsman's Petfurdo facility expansion (HUN)?

Automotive, bedding, building insulation, coatings, metalworking and electronics sectors will benefit from increased JEFFCAT® catalyst supply. According to the company, the expansion targets energy‑efficient and lower‑emission applications across these industries.

What strategic goals did Huntsman cite for the Petfurdo unit expansion (NYSE: HUN)?

Huntsman cited goals of enhanced flexibility, sustainability, operational excellence and long‑term value creation from the expansion. According to the company, the unit positions them to deliver cleaner, more efficient solutions with greater speed and reliability.