Dow investments in specialities

Dow has announced what it described as “a series of incremental, high-return capacity expansions to support growing demand across key end-markets, all of which value sustainable solutions and continue to grow faster than GDP”. Most relate in full or in part to specialities.

In the Consumer Solutions business, there are several ongoing projects in cationic hydroxyethylcellulose polymers and polyethylene glycols for home and personal care applications. Other expansions in this field are all in silicones of all kinds, mainly for the automotive, construction, electronics and consumer markets. All are due to be completed this year.

In addition, the Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals business plans to increase propylene glycol capacity Map Ta Phut, Thailand (pictured), by 80,000 tonnes/year, bringing the total capacity to 250,000 by 2024. This business supplies basic chemical building blocks for cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical ingredients, plus many others.