Document ypk3GZzx6g7G5p2Omd5YMEr4V

"p 'Py\\ K. H. Sloxikwilil * Akron May 23, 1974 DOW OUTMICAL COMPANY MGNOQILORO BII MayJL7, 1974, iCT T. L. floss apo D, l/Mollon St. Louis Akron Cuming Paton St. Louis At this mating 1 informed Marv ttinqulst and Dm Hack of tha fact that out Toehniccl Department wcovertd some furthar diffieultias with raspaet to dafinlng tha exact co^esitim of tha by-product straws coning fron tha Mil facilities. Monsanto could not, there fore, release tha contract for Dow's approval until those diffi culties are resolved. I astinetad approiinataly six weeks for this investigation. '' Both Dm Blaek and Marv fcinquist were not visibly upset by this new development, Msrv Winquist did request that if at any tine during our investigations we find that tha economics of the contract must be altered, that we notify Dow iamdiatoly. lie reiterstod that Dow does net have an awful lot of eccnosiic flexibility and that any price increase my cause unfavorable Dow management reaction to the projoct. 1 mentioned that wa were doing all that is possible to keep any changes internal to Monsanto, With respect to tlning on future shipments of MCB, Marv indicated that Initial trial tanktruck quantity will probably be shipped in September, 1974. Jla will re-confirm as this date approaches, hulk shipments will begin probably second quarter of 1975. Apparently, tha on-going strike et Midlsnd has caused about a two months slip in tho MCB program. Marv indlcatod that Dow has all intentions to scale iq> to the higher MCB level as soon as possible ( IS? lbs./year.) Marv it)*a indicated that there is a serious concern as to whether the mdfket for OPP and ri'P would support a higher price and larger volume quantities as they had predicted. Apparently, flayer In Germany has received approval for building a now OPP plant. Tho market price has gone fron i.3S to around SI.00 right now. Both flayer and Dow an supplying this market with approximately 50k of their rsquinments. At this new pricing level, several new substitutes to tho OPP and PPP products have to he evaluated by tow's customers. Man did mention that Dow will bo raising tho prlco on these products in the very near future to approximately the level necossftry when manufacturing switches to tho MCB process. This move will provide an indication of whether ot not the new economies will be accepted by tht marketplace. MOMS Oil 738 Cuming Patent -2. Mar M, 1974. A noctlng was tentatively arranged for the end of June In St. Louis The date of the meting will be subject to coapletlon of Monsanto's studios sj well as the length of the Dow Qteaieal strike at Midland MIS; he V. H. Slowikowski