2014.07.24

Shintech Incorporated received the President's "E" Award for Exports from the United States Department of Commerce in recognition of the company's significant contributions to the expansion of U.S. exports. The award was presented by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on May 28.

Shintech Incorporated, the world's largest producer of PVC with headquarters in Houston, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

In 2012 and 2013, Shintech's volume of containerized cargo shipments through the Port of Houston was larger than that of any other company. Last year Shintech exported more than $1.3 billion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin and caustic soda through the Ports of Houston and Freeport in Texas and the Port of New Orleans in Louisiana and other ports.

"I am very honored that Shintech was selected to receive the President's "E" Award for Exports. All of the Shintech family will be encouraged and motivated by this recognition from the President and the Department of Commerce. We at Shintech would like to contribute further to the growth of the U.S. through our continuing export operations." said Mr. Chihiro Kanagawa, Chairman and Founder.

"Congratulations to the "E" Award recipients - these are fantastic American businesses and organizations that have played a crucial role in strengthening and growing our economy through increased U.S. exports," said Secretary Pritzker. "By selling Made-in-America goods and services internationally, U.S. business can grow faster, hire more employees, pay higher wages, and help spread American ideas, innovation and values."

In 1974, Shintech started operations in Freeport Texas with a production capacity of 220 million pounds per year. At that time Shintech was the 13th largest manufacturer in the U.S. Now, forty years later, Shintech operates in Texas and Louisiana and its production capacity of PVC has increased 26 times over, to 5.8 billion pounds per year and is today the largest manufacturer of PVC in the world. Shintech is constructing plants to further expand its PVC production capacity in Louisiana with completion targeted for 2015. With this expansion, Shintech's total PVC production capacity will be 6.5 billion pounds per year. Shintech will continue to proactively respond to growing worldwide demand for PVC.

President Kennedy revived the World War II "E" symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America's exporters. The "E" Award Program was established by Executive Order 10978 on December 5, 1961. Four years of successive export growth and an applicant's demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in making the award.

U.S. companies are nominated for the "E" Award for Exports through the Department of Commerce's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network, located within the Department's International Trade Administration, which has offices in 108 U.S. cities and more than 70 countries to help U.S. exporters.

A total of 65 U.S. companies were presented with the President's "E" Award this year.

For inquires about this matter, please contact:
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Dept.
Tetsuya Koishikawa
Tel: 03-3246-5091, or from outside Japan: 81-3-3246-5091
Fax: 03-3246-5096, or from outside Japan: 81-3-3246-5096
e-mail: sec-pr@shinetsu.jp
www.shinetsu.co.jp
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