Dow Thailand — Dow’s largest manufacturing base in Asia Pacific
Dow entered the Thai market in 1967 and established Dow Chemical Thailand to import and distribute chemical products as part of its global efforts to explore new markets. Recognizing the growth potential of the petrochemical industry in Thailand and across Southeast Asia, Dow launched its first manufacturing facility in Phrapadaeng in 1978.
In 1987, Dow signed its first joint-venture agreement with SCG, one of Thailand’s most recognized industrial conglomerates, to set up SCG-DOW Group. The Group moved into Map Ta Phut in 1993 by building a styrene-butadiene latex plant and a polyurethane plant. Over the next six years, the company embarked on a series of investments and started up more integrated, world-scale manufacturing facilities such as polystyrene, ethyl benzene and styrene monomer, and solution polyethylene plants.
In 2006, SCG-DOW Group announced the Thai Growth Project, a multibillion-dollar mega-investment initiated to develop five downstream plants, namely solution polyethylene train II, specialty elastomer, hydrogen peroxide (a joint-venture project between Dow Chemical and Solvay), propylene oxide, and power, utilities & infrastructure. In 2011, the new production complex of downstream plants is opened and began supporting the growth of customers in Thailand and Asia Pacific with the most advanced technologies under strict environmental, health, and safety standards.
Apart from operating the largest manufacturing plant in Asia Pacific, Dow Chemical is a leading importer of chemicals for diverse industries in Thailand, including those for agriculture and household pesticides. Furthermore, its acquisition of Union Carbide Corporation and Rohm and Haas has made Dow Chemical the leading company for specialty chemicals and advanced materials with expanded expertise and innovation, together with cutting-edge, green technology.