"If we can't do better, why do it?" With an innovative spirit focused on excellence, Herbert H. Dow founded The Dow Chemical Company in 1897 in Midland, Michigan, where the global headquarters is still located. In over a century of existence, we have expanded our company operations to every continent and we are one of the most profitable chemical companies in the world today.
Dow's history in Brazil started in 1956, when we opened our first sales offices in São Paulo. Since then, we have expanded our product portfolio and activities to over 45 locations within the region.
1950s
| 1956 |
Dow opens its first sales office in São Paulo, Brazil |
| 1957 |
Dow starts operations in Argentina |
| 1959 |
Dow establishes Dow Química Mexicana |
| 1959 |
Dow opens its first Latin American plant, in Tlanepantla, Mexico |
1960s
| 1960 |
Dow establishes Dow Química Mexicana |
| 1966 |
Dow starts operations in the petrochemical industry in Chile |
1970s
| 1970 |
Dow starts inaugurates new plants in Colombia, Argentina and Chile |
| 1970 |
Dow’s Talcahuano Petrochemical Complex in Chile is inaugurated |
| 1971 |
Dow’s first Latin America industrial complex inaugurated in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil. |
| 1975 |
Dow’s first Research and Development Center is built in Bogota, Colombia. |
| 1977 |
Dow opens the industrial complex of Aratu, Bahia, Brazil, and begins to produce caustic soda, propylene oxide and propylene glycol, among other chemicals |
1980s
| 1981 |
Dow launches its largest Research and Development Center in the Southern Hemisphere (and the third largest of the company at that time) in Franco da Rocha, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 1982 |
Dow inaugurates its new Poliol Plant in Puerto General San Martín, Argentina |
| 1985 |
PETRODOW plant, in Chile, is distinguished for its outstanding performance in safety |
| 1986 |
Chemical Specialties starts to operate in Puerto General San Martín, Argentina |
| 1987 |
Dow establishes its new administrative headquarters in Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil |
| 1989 |
Dow starts its Glycols Ethers operations in Puerto General San Martín, Argentina |
1990s
| 1996 |
Dow acquires Petroquímica Bahía Blanca and Polisur in Argentina. This merge originated PBBPolisur |
| 1997 |
Dow and Pronor create a joint venture for the production and marketing of TDI (toluene di-isocyanate), in Bahia, Brazil. |
| 1998 |
In Mexico, Dow purchases Eli Lilly’s stocks in Dow Elanco and Dow AgroSciences is created |
| 1998 |
Dow builds a new lab for polyethylene (PE) in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, followed by the expansion of its High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plant |
| 1998 |
In Brazil, Dow starts the operations of the Pindamonhangaba plant, in São Paulo. |
2000s
| 2001 |
Dow acquires Rohm and Haas’ agricultural products portfolio, and announces the construction of a Dow Automotive factory in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil |
| 2008 |
Dow Latin America held Dow’s first-ever Sustainability Week, a series of events prepared in a four-day agenda with activities designed to accelerate collaboration with customers, employees, partners, NGOs, the press, authorities, associations, and communities. |
| 2009 |
Dow completes the acquisition of Rohm and Haas, creating leading global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company |
| 2010 |
Dow becomes the “Official Chemistry Company” of the Olympic Games for the next 10 years, including the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 2010 |
Dow´s Phytosanitaries Plant begins to operate in Puerto General San Martín, Argentina |
