Opinion on  The Dow Chemical Company (DOW)     Sector: Basic Materials  >  Industry: Chemicals - Plastics & Rubber
Better living through chemistry

The Dow Chemical Company engages in the manufacture and sale of chemicals, plastic materials, agricultural, and other specialized products and services worldwide. The company operates in six segments: Performance Plastics, Performance Chemicals, Agricultural Sciences, Basic Plastics, Basic Chemicals, and Hydrocarbons and Energy. The Performance Plastics segment provides automotive products, building solutions, epoxy resins, intermediates and specialty resins, polyurethanes and polyurethane systems, specialty plastics and elastomers, and technology licensing and catalyst products. The Performance Chemicals segment offers polymers, latex, and specialty chemicals. The Agricultural Sciences segment provides pest management, agricultural, and crop biotechnology products and solutions. The Basic Plastics segment offers polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene resins. The Basic Chemicals segment provides chemicals, such as acids, alcohols, caustic soda, chlorine, chloroform, and other chemicals; and ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol chemicals. The Hydrocarbons and Energy segment procures fuels, natural gas liquids, and crude oil-based raw materials, as well as supplies monomers, power, and steam. Its products include benzene; butadiene; butylene; cumene; ethylene; propylene; styrene; power, steam, and other utilities. The company also involves in the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance business through its Liana Limited subsidiaries. It serves various industries, including appliance; automotive; agricultural; building and construction; chemical processing; electronics; furniture; house wares; oil and gas; packaging; paints, coatings, and adhesives; personal care; pharmaceutical; processed foods; pulp and paper; textile and carpet; utilities; and water treatment industries.

Last week, Dow announced that significant price increases (20%)were coming.  Like everyone else, they're being negatively effected by higher commodities prices.  Most of the chemicals that they peddle come from crude oil.  I don't think that their customers will balk.  This price increase will go down just as smoothly as the one RIO got from steel companies not that long ago.