Dow Chemical Company, the largest US chemical manufacturer, began to lay off workers in the southern state of Texas.

Dow's spokeswoman Tracie Copeland, quoted by Houston Chronicle on Saturday, said the chemical giant was closing some of its operations in Texas, but declined to say how many workers will be terminated.

The Michigan-based company employed 6,000 people at manufacturing sites in Texas and an administrative office in the Texas' city of Houston.

In December, Dow said it would cut 11 percent of its global work force, or about 5,000 employees, and a third of its 6,000 contractors, as well as slash output at 180 plants and close another 20 plants worldwide.

Dow Chemical Company is a provider of plastics, chemicals, and agricultural products with presence in more than 175 countries and employing 46,000 people worldwide.

Texas, the largest chemical producing state of the United States, could be hit hard by the cutbacks.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2009)