Dow Chemical (Midland, MI) and Rompetrol Petrochemicals, (Bucharest, Romania) have agreed to a manufacturing and marketing deal for the production of low- and high-density polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE). Rompetrol Petrochemicals will supply Dow with both resin types, which meet Dow''s global quality standards. Dow will market these grades under its name.

Annual output is expected to eventually reach 100,000 tonnes/yr, but deliveries to Dow will initially be 60,000 tonnes/yr. "This agreement underscores Dow''s commitment to secure low-cost opportunities that will strengthen the company''s position in key growth regions around the globe," says Markus Wildi, president of Dow Europe. "It provides an effective way for our polyethylene business to develop new market opportunities in Eastern Europe, while better supporting a number of key customers throughout the area."

Florin Andrei, Rompetrol CEO, says he hopes the partnership will spark the beginning of major development in the region. Rompetrol receives technical support, feedstock, and technical specifications from its partner. Dow supplies ethylene feedstock to Rompetrol until the Romanian company starts its own pyrolisis installation. Rompetrol is Romania''s key polypropylene producer and supplies 64% of the domestic market from its 80,000 tonnes/yr capacity facility in Midia Navodari.-Robert Colvin, [email protected]