MIDLAND, Mich. - The Dow Chemical Company plans to build a new phenolic glycol ether production unit in Freeport, Texas, to meet the changing needs of its performance-solvents customers. The new unit, which will come online in the third quarter of 2006, will replace existing capacity in Midland, Mich.

The new unit will produce DOWANOL® EPh and PPh and will be designed to meet immediate and forecast demand for these fast-growing performance solvents. The facility will incorporate the latest technology resulting in an improvement in product quality and consistency. One of the major factors behind the decision to build the new unit in Freeport is easier access to key raw materials - phenol, ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO).