Dow, Siam Cement reinforce plans for Thai elastomer plant

The decline in world''s demand for chemicals is not likely to deter the specialty elastomer plant in Thailand planned by a joint venture of Dow Chemical Co. and Siam Cement Group (SCG). The world-scale facility being constructed in the Asia Industrial Estate in Rayong province will come on stream in 2011 as planned and forms part of the company''s plans to bolster its Asian operations, according to the statement from SCG-Dow Group. A Dow statement clarified that the company is spinning off an Asian olefins derivatives operation but this does not include the SGC-Dow. Dow said it was spinning off a Malaysian olefins derivates unit, Optimal Group, to its joint venture partner to Petronas. SCG-Dow is a joint venture formed in 1987 between Dow and Siam, Thailand''s largest industrial conglomerate. The joint venture makes polystyrene, polyethylene and other products. www.dow.comNIKE