UCAR Emulsion Systems (UES), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co., has announced sales control for all latex products in North America and Puerto Rico. Effective immediately, UES will implement a sales control program for its UCAR and NEOCAR products and UCAR POLYPHOBE rheology modifiers due to shortages in the availability of several key raw materials used in the manufacture of these latex products. The supply of monomers in particular has reached a critical point, as several global suppliers have declared force majeure or sales allocations. UES is taking this action to ensure reliable supply to meet contract commitments. The sales control is expected to remain in effect throughout 2005. UES does not expect to be able to meet contracted volume commitments and will continue its efforts to monitor the situation and keep all customers updated as appropriate.

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