Dow closing 3 La. production units NEW ORLEANS (AP) (wrkf) - Dow Chemical Co. is closing three of its Louisiana production units as part of a shift away from basic chemicals toward the lucrative business of specialty chemicals.

Dow says about 100 employees working at the three units will be offered jobs elsewhere in the company. The units include two at Hahnville, near New Orleans, and one at Plaquemine.

The plants make ethylene, a building block for basic chemicals like plastic and packaging.

In late 2008 and early 2009, Dow shut another ethylene unit at Plaquemine, two at Seadrift, Texas, and another at Freeport, Texas.

The shuttering comes as part of a plan to cut costs after Dow bought rival Rohm & Haas in April for more than $16 billion. © Copyright 2009, wrkf