Producer
Dow Inc.
Dow Inc. (Midland, Michigan; NYSE: DOW; ~$45B revenue) is a major global EPDM producer through its Performance Elastomers division, producing NORDEL EPDM. NORDEL is manufactured primarily at Dow's Freeport, Texas complex (one of the largest integrated chemical sites in North America) and at European facilities. NORDEL EPDM is used in automotive weatherstripping, roofing, wire insulation, and plumbing seals. Dow is estimated to hold ~15-18% of global EPDM capacity. The NORDEL brand has been a benchmark EPDM product since the 1960s (originally DuPont, transferred to Dow in 2019 DuPont-Dow merger split). Dow's integrated Freeport site gives it ethylene and propylene feedstock advantages for EPDM production cost.
5
Inputs supplied
3
Goods downstream
3
Facilities
0
Stories
What they make
5 inputs Dow Inc. supplies
Click an input to see every good that depends on it, every country that produces it, and every other company in the supply chain.
pharmaceutical
HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) excipient →
chemical
HDPE/LLDPE resin and pipe →
chemical
Silicone rubber diaphragms →
manufactured
EPDM / Rubber Seals and Gaskets (Plumbing) →
chemical
HDPE/LLDPE resin & pipe →
Where it shows up
Goods downstream
Essential goods that depend on something Dow Inc. makes, pick one to see the full supply chain.
Where they make it
3 facilities
Dow Carrollton Silicone Plant →
USKentucky, USA · manufacturing
Dow silicone compounding facility producing DOWSIL™ LSR compounds for food, medical, and agricultural applications. Key North American supply point for irrigation-grade silicone elastomers.
Dow Freeport Complex →
USFreeport, TX · manufacturing
Dow's largest manufacturing site globally. Produces HDPE, LLDPE, specialty PE. >5,000 employees. On-site ethylene cracker.
Dow NORDEL EPDM Plant — Freeport Complex (Freeport, TX) →
USTexas · manufacturing
Dow's primary NORDEL EPDM manufacturing facility at the Freeport, Texas integrated complex — one of the largest chemical sites in North America (~5,000 acres, 40+ plants). NORDEL EPDM produced here is integrated with Dow's ethylene and propylene cracker infrastructure. The Freeport complex is also exposed to Gulf of Mexico hurricane risk: Freeport was affected by Hurricane Harvey (2017) and has experienced multiple prior weather-related shutdowns. A major hurricane causing multi-week downtime at Freeport would simultaneously curtail NORDEL EPDM, polyethylene, and multiple other polymer supply chains. Source: https://www.dow.com/en-us/site/freeport.html
What else they do
Business segments
The company's full revenue map, where this supply-chain role fits within their broader business.
Packaging & Specialty Plastics (Polyethylene)
55%Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure
30%Performance Materials & Coatings
15%
Intelligence
What's known
Sourced claims about this company's role in supply chains, chokepoints, concentration, incidents, dual-use connections.
Did you know2023
Dow's polyethylene resins — primarily LLDPE and HDPE produced at Freeport, Texas — flow into three separate critical infrastructure supply chains from the same Texas petrochemical complex: (1) Food packaging film — LLDPE flexible film wraps fresh produce, meat, and cheese; Dow is the world's largest producer of packaging polyethylene; food safety in grocery retail depends on Dow film preventing contamination and extending shelf life; (2) IV fluid bags — LLDPE/polypropylene multilayer film is the primary material for modern IV solution bags (replacing glass bottles); B. Braun's Excel bags, Baxter's Galaxy bags, and Fresenius Kabi's non-PVC bags are all made from polyolefin film derived ultimately from Dow and peer resin producers; (3) HDPE water and gas distribution pipe — HDPE resin is extruded into large-diameter pressure pipe for municipal water mains, gas distribution, and irrigation; replacing older cast iron and steel pipe. Hurricane-induced shutdowns at Freeport Texas (most recently Hurricane Harvey 2017) simultaneously threaten food packaging film production, IV bag material supply, and pipe resin for water infrastructure replacement — three distinct critical systems from one Gulf Coast site.
Dow Inc. ↗