Dow Chemical 2011 Annual Report Download - page 243

149
FEEDSTOCKS AND ENERGY
Applications: agricultural products alumina automotive antifreeze and coolant systems carpet and textiles chemical
processing dry cleaning household cleaners and plastic products inks metal cleaning packaging, food and
beverage containers paints, coatings and adhesives personal care products petroleum refining pharmaceuticals
plastic pipe polymer and chemical production power protective packaging pulp and paper manufacturing soaps
and detergents water treatment
The Chlor-Alkali/Chlor-Vinyl business focuses on the production of chlorine for consumption by Dow's downstream
derivative businesses, as well as production, marketing and supply of ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride monomer and
caustic soda. These products are used for applications such as alumina production, pulp and paper manufacturing,
soaps and detergents, and building and construction. Dow is the world's largest producer of both chlorine and caustic
soda.
• Products: Caustic soda; Chlorine; Ethylene dichloride (EDC); Hydrochloric acid; Vinyl chloride monomer
(VCM)
The Energy business supplies power, steam and other utilities, principally for use in Dow's global operations.
• Products: Power, steam and other utilities
The Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol business is the world's largest producer of purified ethylene oxide, principally
used in Dow's downstream performance derivatives. Dow is also a supplier of ethylene glycol to MEGlobal, a 50:50
joint venture and a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of merchant monoethylene glycol and diethylene
glycol. Ethylene glycol is used in polyester fiber, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for food and beverage container
applications, polyester film, and aircraft and runway deicers.
• Products: Ethylene oxide (EO); Ethylene glycol (EG)
The Hydrocarbons business encompasses the procurement of natural gas liquids and crude oil-based raw materials, as
well as the supply of monomers for derivative businesses. The business regularly sells its by-products and buys and
sells products in order to balance regional production capabilities and derivative requirements. The business also sells
products to certain Dow joint ventures. Dow is the world leader in the production of olefins and aromatics.
• Products: Benzene; Butadiene; Butylene; Cumene; Ethylene; Octene; Propylene; Styrene
The Feedstocks and Energy segment also includes the results of Compañía Mega S.A., MEGlobal and a portion of the
results of EQUATE Petrochemical Company K.S.C., The Kuwait Olefins Company K.S.C. and the SCG-Dow Group,
all joint ventures of the Company.
Divestitures:
• On June 17, 2010, Dow sold Styron to an affiliate of Bain Capital Partners. Businesses and products sold within
the Feedstocks and Energy segment included certain styrene monomer assets, which were reported in the
Feedstocks and Energy segment through the date of the divestiture (see Note E).
• The Feedstocks and Energy segment also included a portion of the results of the OPTIMAL Group of Companies
through the September 30, 2009 divestiture of this group of joint ventures (see Note E).
Corporate includes the results of Ventures (which includes new business incubation platforms focused on identifying and
pursuing new commercial opportunities); Venture Capital; non-business aligned technology licensing and catalyst
activities; the Company's insurance operations and environmental operations; enterprise level mega project activities; and
certain corporate overhead costs and cost recovery variances not allocated to the operating segments. In 2009, Corporate
also included the results of the Salt business, which the Company acquired with the April 1, 2009 acquisition of Rohm and
Haas and sold to K+S Aktiengesellschaft on October 1, 2009.