Profile: Huntsman Corporation (HUN.N)

Huntsman Corporation (Huntsman) is a manufacturer of differentiated organic chemical products and of inorganic chemical products. Its products comprise a range of chemicals and formulations, which it markets globally to a group of consumer and industrial customers. The Company’s products are used in a range of applications, including those in the adhesives, aerospace, automotive, construction products, durable and non-durable consumer products, electronics, medical, packaging, paints and coatings, power generation, refining, synthetic fiber, textile chemicals and dye industries. The Company is a global producer of methyl diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), amines, surfactants, epoxy-based polymer formulations, textile chemicals, dyes, maleic anhydride and titanium dioxide. The Company operates in four segments: Polyurethanes, Materials and Effects, Performance Products and Pigments. Its Polyurethanes, Materials and Effects and Performance Products segments produce differentiated organic chemical products and the Pigments segment produces inorganic chemical products. In June 2009, Huntsman acquired the Baroda Division of Metrochem Industries Ltd, which is the manufacturing facility for the production of intermediates and specialty products for textiles, located in Baroda, India.

Polyurethanes

The Company produces over 2,000 MDI-based polyurethane products. The Company’s polyurethane products are used in a range of end-use markets, including insulation in construction and appliances, cushioning for automotive and furniture, adhesives, wood binders, footwear and other specialized engineering applications. The Company is a North American producer of propylene oxide (PO). The Company processes PO into derivative products, such as polyols for polyurethane products, propylene glycol (PG) and other chemical products. It operates all of its businesses through Huntsman International, its 100% owned subsidiary.

The Company competes with BASF, Bayer, Dow and Basell.

Materials and Effects

Materials and Effects segment is a global manufacturer and marketer of epoxy, acrylic and polyurethane-based polymer products and textile solutions, including dye and chemical products. The Company focuses on formulations and systems that are used to address customer-specific needs in a variety of industrial and consumer applications. Its products are used either as replacements for traditional materials, such as metal, wood, clay, glass, stone, ceramics and natural fibers, or in applications where traditional materials do not meet demanding engineering specifications. The Company operates synthesis, formulating and production facilities in North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. It markets over 6,000 products to more than 5,000 customers in over 20 end-markets.

The Company competes with BASF, Kukdo, Leuna, NanYa, Air Products, Arizona, Hexion, Cognis, Cray Valley, Evonics, DIC, Dow, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Henkel/Loctite, ITW, National Starch, Sika, 3M, Altana, Schenectady, Wuxi, Dexter-Hysol, Hitachi Chemical, Nagase Chemtex, Toshiba Chemical, Coates, Goo, Peters, Taiyo Ink, Tamura, Axson, DSM, Dystar, Clariant and Lanxess.

Performance Products

Performance Products segment is organized around three market groups, performance specialties, performance intermediates and maleic anhydride and licensing. It serves a range of consumer and industrial end markets. In performance specialties, the Company is a global producer of amines, carbonates and certain specialty surfactants. In performance intermediates, the Company consumes internally produced and third-party-sourced base petrochemicals in the manufacture of surfactants, linear alkyl benzene (LAB) and ethanolamines products, which are primarily used in detergency, consumer products and industrial applications. It also produces ethylene glycol (EG), which is primarily used in the production of polyester fibers and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging. The Company is the global licensor of maleic anhydride manufacturing technology and are also the supplier of butane fixed bed catalyst used in the manufacture of maleic anhydride. Its licensing group also licenses technology on behalf of other Huntsman businesses. It operates 15 Performance Products manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The Company competes with BASF, Air Products, Dow, Tosoh, Akzo, Sasol, Petresa, Lyondell, Clariant, Shell, Cognis, Stepan, Kao, Lanxess, Flint Hills Resources, Marathon and Polynt.

Pigments

The Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of titanium dioxide, which is a white pigment used to impart whiteness, brightness and opacity to products, such as paints, plastics, paper, printing inks, fibers and ceramics. It operates eight chloride-based and sulfate-based titanium dioxide manufacturing facilities located in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The Company offers a range of products that are sold worldwide to approximately 1,500 customers in all titanium dioxide end markets and geographic regions. Its pigments business has an aggregate annual nameplate capacity of approximately 600,000 tons at its eight production facilities. Five of its titanium dioxide manufacturing plants are located in Europe, one is in North America, one is in Asia, and one is in South Africa. Its North American operation consists of a 50% interest in a manufacturing joint venture with Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

The Company competes with DuPont, Tronox, Kronos and Cristal.