Eastman Chemical Company has announced that Qilu Eastman Specialty Chemical Ltd. (QESCL) has begun operations in Zibo, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. QESCL is a joint venture between Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical Company and Eastman Chemical Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company. The new plant produces Texanol ester alcohol and TXIB plasticizer. The plant is able to meet the total demand of Eastman's current customers for these products in China. Construction of the plant began in September 2003.

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