Dow Announces Maintenance Turnaround at TDI Facility in Camaçari, Brazil

MIDLAND, MICH. - April 02, 2007

Dow Polyurethanes, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, will conduct a scheduled turnaround at its toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production plant in Camaçari, Brazil, for routine maintenance. The thirty-day turnaround is scheduled to begin on April 10^th and will involve equipment inspections, repairs and replacements. Consistent with Dow’s commitment to the polyurethanes industry, this preventative maintenance work will ensure that customers receive a consistent and reliable source of TDI from Dow in the long term.

“While periodic turnarounds are anticipated across the industry, they put additional pressure on an already tight supply,” states Steven English, business director for Dow Isocyanates, a business unit within Dow Polyurethanes. “As we do with every planned shutdown, Dow has been building inventory in advance to supply our customers with TDI while the turnaround is in progress and to minimize the potential for disruption.”

Global demand for TDI is growing at an annual rate of four percent, driven primarily by demand for polyurethane flexible foams in a diverse range of applications including automotive seating, mattresses and furniture cushioning. While there had been an excess of TDI supply over the past several years, recent industry consolidations have resulted in a tight supply situation. As a market leader in the polyurethanes industry, Dow continues to evaluate additional production capabilities and improvements to provide customers with a consistent supply of TDI to meet growing demand in the global marketplace. Dow recently announced that it is conducting a joint feasibility study with BASF to determine the construction of a state-of-the-art TDI production plant at one of its integrated sites in Europe.

“Dow is committed to the polyurethanes industry and routine maintenance turnarounds are critical to ensuring the long term safety and performance of our plants,” added English. “By providing top-of-the-line maintenance and by continuiously evaluating new sources for TDI, we feel that we are able to provide customers with the best long term service and supply possible.”

About Dow Polyurethanes

Dow is the world's largest producer of polyether polyols, a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI and TDI, and a major supplier of propylene oxide, an essential component of polyether polyols. Dow's polyurethanes products and formulated systems are used in rigid foams, flexible foams, adhesives, sealants, coatings, and elastomers, as well as many other applications. Dow also offers the latest in polyol technology with its VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols, part of an ongoing initiative by Dow to lead the industry in providing high-performance products with reduced VOC-emissions. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com, www.pusystems.com and www.voractiv.com.

About The Dow Chemical Company

For Editorial Information:

Myra Dean
The Dow Chemical Company
(989) 638-6969

Urszula Murphy
Gibbs & Soell, Inc.
(212) 697-2600, ext. 1296
umurphy@gibbs-soell.com

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Asia Pacific Europe India, Middle East, Africa Latin America North America About Dow Polyurethanes Product Stewardship ISO Certificates Answer Center News Events MSDS & SDS My Account @ Dow Contact Us Send An Email Technical Inquiry Global Polyurethanes Home	Dow Announces Maintenance Turnaround at TDI Facility in Camaçari, Brazil MIDLAND, MICH. - April 02, 2007 Dow Polyurethanes, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, will conduct a scheduled turnaround at its toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production plant in Camaçari, Brazil, for routine maintenance. The thirty-day turnaround is scheduled to begin on April 10^th and will involve equipment inspections, repairs and replacements. Consistent with Dow’s commitment to the polyurethanes industry, this preventative maintenance work will ensure that customers receive a consistent and reliable source of TDI from Dow in the long term. “While periodic turnarounds are anticipated across the industry, they put additional pressure on an already tight supply,” states Steven English, business director for Dow Isocyanates, a business unit within Dow Polyurethanes. “As we do with every planned shutdown, Dow has been building inventory in advance to supply our customers with TDI while the turnaround is in progress and to minimize the potential for disruption.” Global demand for TDI is growing at an annual rate of four percent, driven primarily by demand for polyurethane flexible foams in a diverse range of applications including automotive seating, mattresses and furniture cushioning. While there had been an excess of TDI supply over the past several years, recent industry consolidations have resulted in a tight supply situation. As a market leader in the polyurethanes industry, Dow continues to evaluate additional production capabilities and improvements to provide customers with a consistent supply of TDI to meet growing demand in the global marketplace. Dow recently announced that it is conducting a joint feasibility study with BASF to determine the construction of a state-of-the-art TDI production plant at one of its integrated sites in Europe. “Dow is committed to the polyurethanes industry and routine maintenance turnarounds are critical to ensuring the long term safety and performance of our plants,” added English. “By providing top-of-the-line maintenance and by continuiously evaluating new sources for TDI, we feel that we are able to provide customers with the best long term service and supply possible.” About Dow Polyurethanes Dow is the world's largest producer of polyether polyols, a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI and TDI, and a major supplier of propylene oxide, an essential component of polyether polyols. Dow's polyurethanes products and formulated systems are used in rigid foams, flexible foams, adhesives, sealants, coatings, and elastomers, as well as many other applications. Dow also offers the latest in polyol technology with its VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols, part of an ongoing initiative by Dow to lead the industry in providing high-performance products with reduced VOC-emissions. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com, www.pusystems.com and www.voractiv.com. About The Dow Chemical Company For Editorial Information: Myra Dean The Dow Chemical Company (989) 638-6969 Urszula Murphy Gibbs & Soell, Inc. (212) 697-2600, ext. 1296 umurphy@gibbs-soell.com
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