As part of what CEO Andrew Liveris called an "asset light" strategy, Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) is looking to hive off its commodity polystyrene and polystyrene activities into joint ventures. Speaking at a conference call to present Q4 and full-year 2006 results (see Plasteurope.com Web of 01.02.2007), Liveris said the world´s largest plastics manufacturer is seeking partners that offer "added strengths, such as further back integration in feedstocks or expanded geographic presence."

Liveris pointed to the partnerships with Kuwait´s PIC in polyester as an example of the company´s intended strategy for PS and PP. Since 2004, Dow and the Kuwaiti group have operated the joint ventures Equipolymers for PET / PTA and MEGlobal for MEG. In PS, where Dow is regarded as world´s number one player, Liveris suggested that a move could be made soon. In any case, he advised participants in the conference call to "stay tuned for some bold new moves" in the group´s "Basics" portfolio.