Dow Announces a Price Increase for Vinyl Acetate Monomer in All Regions

Midland, MI - October 11, 2005

Dow has announced a price increase for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) in all regions of the world, effective November 1, 2005.

This announcement is in addition to previous price increases that became effective September 15 and October 1, 2005.

"The lasting impact of two hurricanes in a short timespan on the U.S. Gulf Coast has created extremely high prices and limited availability of raw material and natural gas, which are essential for the production of VAM," said Alessandro Trombini, North American and European marketing manager for Dow VAM. "These factors have contributed substantially to the necessity of further VAM price increases at Dow."

With today's increase, Dow will raise list selling prices in Latin America by US$100 per metric ton; in the Pacific by US$100 per metric ton; in Europe by 80 Euros per metric ton; in the Middle East and Africa by US$100 per metric ton; in the U.S.A. and Canada by $.045 per pound or as otherwise allowed by individual contract terms.

For more information about vinyl acetate monomer, visit www.dowvam.com.

Dow is a global leader in the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), an essential chemical building block used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. VAM is a key ingredient in emulsion polymers, resins, and intermediates used in paints, adhesives, coatings, textiles, wire and cable polyethylene compounds, laminated safety glass, packaging, automotive plastic fuel tanks, and acrylic fibers.

About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $40 billion, Dow serves customers in 175 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress: food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its 43,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.


For Editorial Information:

Amy Ahlich
The Dow Chemical Company
(989) 636-3587

Josiah McClellan
Gibbs & Soell, Inc.
(212) 697-2600