US Dow exit hydroxyalkyl acrylates business

12 November 2007 18:25  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Dow Chemical said on Monday it would stop producing hydroxyalkyl acrylates at its Freeport plant in Texas by the end of 2007.

A spokesman for Dow said the decision to exit the hydroxyalkyl acrylates market would have no impact on its sales of acrylic acid and acrylate esters, as these products are managed differently.

The hydroxyalkyl acrylates product line includes hydroxyethyl acrylate and hydroxypropyl acrylate. These products are sold largely to major coatings formulators for use in automotive topcoat applications.

Dow would not comment on the capacity produced at the plant.

“Dow’s competitiveness in the HAA [hydroxyalkyl acrylates] market has deteriorated significantly as a result of high raw material costs, industry overcapacity and declining demand with a shift to low-acid HAA products,” said Chris Kok, a spokesman for Dow.

Dow said in a statement it would work closely with customers to manage last-time orders, which must be in by 12 December, with delivery no later than mid-November 2008.

Major acrylate producers in the US include Rohm and Haas and BASF.

By: Heather McGuire Doyle
+1 713 525 2653

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