ZHANGJIAGANG, OCTOBER 12, 2000 - The Dow Chemical Company and Asahi Chemical Industry
Co., Ltd. officiated the commencement of their joint
venture project in Zhangjiagang, China today.
This major polystyrene project will
be operated by SAL Petrochemical (Zhangjiagang) Company
Limited, a 50/50 joint venture of Dow and Asahi. The
plant will have an annual capacity of 120,000 metric
tons and is targeted to start up in early 2002.
In an address at the project commencement
ceremony, Clay Dunn, Business Vice President, Polystyrene,
The Dow Chemical Company, said, “China is a familiar
market to Dow, since we have been operating here for
more than 20 years. The SAL Zhangjiagang plant is a
further demonstration of our commitment to this significant
growth market.”
Dunn pointed out that the new SAL plant
at Zhangjiagang was the 20th polystyrene plant location
for Dow in the world. “This plant is an important
part of our strategy to ensure that we are capable of
meeting our customers' needs across the globe and from
across the street,” said Dunn.
Commenting on the growth of the polystyrene
business, Hiroshi Susumago, Senior Managing Director,
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. expressed confidence
that China will become the biggest polystyrene market.
“The growth of home electrical appliances market
in China has been remarkable,” he said. He also
believed that China would become the biggest market
of Information Technology equipment.
He noted that the long history and
strength of Asahi's and Dow's polystyrene technology
have enabled the two companies to supply innovative
and high quality products, and to provide technical
services and other services to enable the competitiveness
and success of their customers.
Joseph Wong, President of SAL Petrochemical
(Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd. said, “This project will
be a world-class facility equipped with the most advanced
technology for the production of STYRON* polystyrene.”
He believes that this plant will bring the best value
to our customers in China and make important contributions
to the development of electrical appliances and light
industry in China.
About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow is a leading science and technology
company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and
agricultural products and services to many essential
consumer markets. With annual sales of US$19 billion,
Dow serves customers in 162 countries and a wide range
of markets that are vital to human progress, including
food, transportation, health and medicine, personal
and home care, and building and construction, among
others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development,
Dow and its 39,000 employees seek to balance economic,
environmental and social responsibilities.
About Asahi Chemical Industry
Co., Ltd
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. is
one of Japan's leading chemical companies, with sales
of US$10 billion in operations ranging from chemical
and fibers to LSIs, housing and pharmaceuticals. Its
petrochemical products include a comprehensive range
of polyethylene, engineering plastics, and other resins,
as well as acrylonitrile, styrene, and other essential
monomers. Asahi's polystyrene business in Japan is now
under A&M Styrene Co., Ltd., a joint venture with Mitsubishi
Chemical Corporation formed in 1998.
|
