Resin and feedstock capacity planned

Dow is planning to commit $200m to its epoxy business in China, the world’s fastest growing market for the material, which is used in coatings, laminates and composites.

At its current base in Zhangjiagang, the group plans to build a 100,000tpa liquid resins plant, expected to start up in 2009 and expand its existing unit at the site from its current 41,000tpa to 75,000tpa. These investments will be supported by a 150,000tpa epichlorhydrin unit, which will be built at a second soon to be announced location using Dow’s proprietary glycerine to epichlorhydrin. Glycerine is a biorenewable product generated during biodiesel production.

Also included in the programme is a new Global Application Development which will be positioned at Dow’s existing R & D facility in Shanghai.