Dow Chemical sets record figures for 2005

Dow Chemical set records across most of its financial parameters last year despite a hydrocarbons bill that soared from $8bn in 2002 to $20bn (E16bn) in 2005. Turnover at $46bn, $4.3bn in net profit and debts down by $1.9bn were all highlighted by chief executive Andrew Liveris in his review of the past twelve months. Dow raised EBIT in its Performance Plastics segment, which includes polyurethanes and epoxies, to $2.47bn in 2005 from $1.05bn in the previous year and in its Plastics business covering styrenics and polyolefins from $1.7bn to $2.4bn. Liveris told US analysts that this year is likely to see further earnings growth. “We see demand continuing to be strong in 2006 – and supply limited,” he said.