By SCBIZ Staff

NORTH CHARLESTON -- MeadWestvaco’s Specialty Chemicals Division was recognized recently for significant growth in its international trade profile. The company received the U.S. Commercial Service’s Export Achievement Certificate, which commends American businesses that have made their first or a significant new-to-market export sale.

The Specialty Chemicals Division has established manufacturing and marketing partnerships in China, as well as a technical support center for its growing customer base in the region. Sales for the division’s Asia Pacific Group in 2006 were up 40% from 2005. This substantial growth has been attributed to strong markets for product lines like carbon for emissions control, dispersants used in dying fabrics and asphalt additives for road paving. In fact, the Specialty Chemicals Division Asphalt Innovation business, based out of North Charleston, has grown within the last five years to the world’s leading supplier of asphalt additives and technologies.

Carl Day, business development director for the Specialty Chemicals Division, has spearheaded efforts for the Chinese market and accepted the award on behalf of the division.

"Asian markets represent a critical component of MeadWestvaco Specialty Chemicals' formula for future success, but as our customer base in countries like China grows, so must our business involvement there,” Day said. “We are working to build new partnerships that will allow us to deliver in Asia the level of quality, customized service that has always defined our business. We can't do it alone though. With the complexities of today's global marketplace, the expertise and resources of the U.S. Commerce Department have been invaluable to us. We're extremely pleased and proud to accept their Export Achievement Award.”

Paul Dyck, deputy assistant secretary for the federal Commerce Department presented Day with the certificate. Dyck emphasized the importance of small- and medium-sized companies like MeadWestvaco to American exporting.

“Most jobs in America are created by small companies. Small- and mid-sized companies like MeadWestvaco comprise almost 97 percent of U.S. exporters,” Dyck said.

The U.S. Commercial Service is a Commerce Department agency that helps small and medium-sized American businesses sell their products and services globally. The agency’s network includes 108 export assistance centers within the United States and more than 150 international offices. In 2006, the U.S. Commercial Service helped American businesses generate export sales worth more than $62 billion.