Dow to boost global PS capacity to 2.25m tonne/yr by '02

19 December 2000 02:58  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)—The Dow Chemical Co will increase its global capacities for polystyrene (PS) to 2.25m tonne/year by end-2002 to help meet demand, which is estimated to grow by 5% annually through to 2005.

Clay Dunn, vice president of Dow's polystyrene business, said in a statement on Tuesday: "In line with market demand, we are taking decisive action to increase our PS capacity and solidify our global market leadership."

Dow claims to be the largest PS maker in the world, supplying some 20% of the estimated 10m tonne annual demand. The company operates 19 facilities around the globe.

According to Dunn, Dow's PS expansion will take place in all major-consuming areas: Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America and Europe.

In Asia Pacific Dow, in a joint venture with Japan's Asahi Chemical, broke ground in October for a 120 000 tonne/year plant at Zhangjiagang, China. Start-up is scheduled for early 2002, bringing Dow's capacity in the region - where it also has plants in Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia - to 590 000 tonne/year.

ICIS Copyright © Reed Business Information 2009

Author: Stefan Baumgarten
+1 713 525 2653

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