Dow Australia shuts down PS plant

24 January 2007 – Dow Chemical (Australia) has announced the closure of its 35,000tpa polystyrene (PS) facility in Altona, near Melbourne.

John Williamson, sales director for Dow Australia’s Plastics business, said the closure, which takes place with immediate effect, was a “difficult decision” but “having been unable to secure a long-term, economically sustainable supply of styrene monomer for the Altona facility, this decision is unavoidable.”

Dow said that it will supply the Australian and New Zealand markets from its PS plants in Asia, while maintaining local sales and technical support.

Dow’s PS plant at the Altona petrochemicals complex employed 17 people.