Dow Announces Restart Of Ethyleneamines Production In Louisiana

Force Majeure Remains in Place for Now

Midland, MI - The Dow Chemical Company today announced that Union Carbide Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow, has resumed ethyleneamines production at its St. Charles Operations site in Hahnville, La.

"We are thankful that the ethyleneamines production equipment at the site was not damaged as a result of hurricane Katrina," says John Maniscalo, marketing manager, Dow Ethyleneamines. "We have resumed low-level production and are now making some bulk shipments. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we expect to return to normal production levels in the next several days."Dow declared force majeure for all ethyleneamines produced at the St. Charles site on August 31, 2005, as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The force majeure remains in place and will be removed when the business is able to operate safely at normal levels in terms of production and shipping. Product availability, which is specific to each product, is driven by a number of factors, including inventory levels prior to the hurricane and the speed at which normal production levels are achieved and sustained.

"Transportation and logistics continue to be constrained on the Gulf Coast and Southeastern United States as a result of the hurricane's impact and are likely to continue to present supply disruptions over the coming months" adds Maniscalo. "Based on current assessments, this situation could last through at least October."

SOURCE: Dow Chemical Company