Horgen, Switzerland - October 12, 2005

Effective immediately, or as contract terms allow, Dow Europe GmbH is increasing the price on all grades of latex sold to the paper, carpet, paint, construction and adhesives industries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, by 8 - 10 percent.

"We continue to experience an unprecedented escalation in raw material costs," says Giuliano Tomassi, European Commercial Director for Dow Latex. "That combined with the soaring fuel prices continue to put intense upward pricing pressure on our Latex business."

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:

Teresa Hak
Dow Europe GmbH
+41 44 728 3187