SHANGHAI – Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., has signed an exclusive manufacturing agreement with Dairen Chemical Corp. (DCC) to produce AQUAPAS™ redispersible powder (RDP) products. The agreement becomes effective January 1, 2015.

The agreement with Dairen, which is one of the largest RDP producers in the world, will allow Ashland to continue serving the construction market with a broad portfolio of products, including CULMINAL™ and COMBIZELL™ methylcellulose derivatives. Ashland will continue to be the exclusive global channel to market for AQUAPAS™ brand products.