Univar acquires Dow Canada’s caustic soda distribution business

Deal will expand Univar’s coverage in Western Canada and Pacific Northwest

By Susan Avery -- Purchasing, 12/11/2007 8:01:00 AM

Univar announced last week that it closed on the purchase of Dow Canada’s western Canada caustic soda distribution assets.

The distribution assets consist of caustic soda storage and transportation, primarily tank terminal and leasehold at North Vancouver, B.C., and an owned fleet of 374 railcars, plus related supply and sales contracts.

The acquisition is expected to enhance Univar Canada’s footprint in the distribution of caustic soda in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Also, it will increase Univar Canada’s annual sales of liquid caustic soda by an amount between 250,000 and 280,000 dry metric tons.

With the addition of the Dow business, Univar now operates seven deep-sea and six barge terminals in North America.

Univar is one of the largest chemical distributors in the world and takes the number-one spot on Purchasing’s Top 100 chemical distributors list for 2007.

See also: Steady as it goes for 2008 chemical distribution.