Dow Chemical closing two VCM plants
The Dow Chemical Co. will close two vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production units in 2011. Dow will shut down a production unit in Oyster Creek, Texas, in the first quarter of 2011. The closure of a second VCM unit, located in Plaquemine, Louisiana, was announced in 2009. The Louisiana plant will cease operations in the third quarter of 2011.
"This is a continuation of the decisive actions taken by Dow to right-size our core chemicals manufacturing footprint and shift our basic feedstocks toward performance derivative businesses," said Carlo Guarino, global business director for Dow Chlor-Vinyl.
VCM is an essential material used for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) applications including building and construction materials, like siding and high-energy efficiency windows, high-durability furnishings and carpeting, municipal and residential water piping systems and medical supplies, such as blood bags and intravenous tubing.
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