BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, Huntsman Corp., Salt Lake City, and Chinese partners announced plans for a feasibility study involving the proposed construction of an integrated isocyanates manufacturing facility in Shanghai to supply the Chinese polyurethanes market. The $1-billion complex would include a 160,000 metric-ton per-year crude MDI manufacturing plant, including manufacturing facilities for the precursors aniline and nitrobenzene; two MDI finishing plants; and a 130,000-metric-ton TDI plant with precursors nitric acid and dinitrotoluene. The complex will be built in an estimated three years following approval by the Chinese government, BASF said. The company recently began construction of a major integrated petrochemical production site in Nanjing, in a 50-50 joint venture with SINOPEC. BASF said it has set a goal to derive 20% of its total chemical sales from Asia.