SHANGHAI, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) today held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Asia Pacific Technology Center (ATC) in Shanghai's Minhang Economic & Technological Development Zone. The $40 million facility is designed to support the Asia Pacific region's rapidly growing demand for world-class technology and innovation. The new ATC will be operational by mid-2013.

"The center will focus on supporting Asia's fast-growing industries, including developing cutting-edge energy-saving material solutions for strategic emerging industries as outlined in China's 12th Five-Year Plan," emphasized Anthony P. Hankins, Huntsman's CEO Asia Pacific at the ceremony.

The new ATC will form an integrated technology and innovation campus together with the existing technology center that was opened in September 2008. The state-of-the-art facility will include machine halls, laboratories and offices and accommodate up to 400 technical experts from different business units and will complement existing Technology Centers in The Woodlands, Texas and Brussels, Belgium as well as smaller regional centers.    

About Huntsman

Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals.  Its operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging.  Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging and, later, for rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has approximately 12,000 employees and operates from multiple locations worldwide.  The Company had 2010 revenues of over $9 billion.  For more information about Huntsman, please visit the Company's website at www.huntsman.com.

SOURCE Huntsman Corporation