Huntsman idled its production.

Huntsman Corp has permanently idled 15% of its total ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG) production. A spokesman for the company said that 175 million lb of EO production and 240 million lb of EG production at Huntsman's Port Neches, Tex., manufacturing site has been shut down. In explaining the shutdown, David S. Parkin, vice-president, intermediates, said, "Ethylene glycol markets have been experiencing weak demand and inadequate margins for far too long. . .If we don't see improvement in the ethylene glycol market, we will seriously consider further reductions in EG production, and diverting our ethylene oxide to other derivatives."

Parkin emphasized, however, that Huntsman remains committed to its EO and EG markets and will continue to meet all contract and merchant demands for the products. ©

&to=http://www.huntsman.com' target=_blank>HUNTSMAN Corp