en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dow is advancing a total investment plan of approximately $100 million to expand its global specialty silicone manufacturing operations, with the expansion continuing through 2027. This investment will increase the company's specialty silicone production capacity in the United States, China, and Japan, with a focus on advanced silicone materials and processing capabilities.
As the world's largest and most integrated silicone supplier, Dow notes that data centers and semiconductors are driving rapid global expansion of the silicone market. The company's investment aims to address growing global demand in the mobility, electronics, and healthcare sectors. The expansion plan includes building liquid silicone rubber production facilities in Carrollton, Kentucky, USA, and Zhangjiagang, China, to serve high-performance applications in these fields. Additionally, engineering silicone material capacity will be expanded, with expansions set to begin this year in Songjiang, China, and Fukui, Japan, and further expansions planned for 2027 in Auburn, Michigan, USA, and Zhangjiagang, China. These materials are primarily used in advanced electronics, covering power electronics, thermal and electrical protection, and semiconductor packaging.
Brendy Lange, President of Dow's Performance Materials & Coatings division, stated that these investments reflect the company's strategy to focus on scaling specialty silicone materials and accelerating the delivery of innovations to customers. By enhancing manufacturing and innovation capabilities in key regions, Dow is responding to growing consumer demand, strengthening global supply chain capabilities, and helping customers accelerate the journey from innovation to commercialization. As part of the investment, the company also expanded its cooling science laboratories in Shanghai, China, and Michigan, USA, earlier this year.
According to data from market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global silicone market was valued at $21.6 billion in 2025, and is projected to grow from $22.9 billion in 2026 to $34.7 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3% during the forecast period. Amid continuously surging demand for microelectronics, power electronics, consumer electronics components, and advanced mobility products, the growth rate of specialty silicones continues to outpace GDP growth. McKinsey notes that the global semiconductor industry was valued at approximately $630 billion to $680 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow to $1 trillion to $1.1 trillion by 2030.
Dow stated that its capabilities have expanded to support the growing demand for silicone solutions in the smart mobility module sector. Silicone materials are key to manufacturing reliable Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), providing the stability needed to protect and secure complex components. According to a recent report from Moody's, modern vehicles carry an average of over 1,700 semiconductors. Fortune Business Insights estimates that the global automotive ADAS market was valued at $68.26 billion in 2025, and is projected to grow from $79.25 billion in 2026 to $261.62 billion by 2034.
