-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VTmolSs6FTxDz+2N5UoGgVPrHxGNIKJFFPm9zZ2vdgZXnk650Q1qyG2vckiHVaiR
 iXb+0pra2tSdW5pI/U+4Vw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183702-04-000009.txt : 20040902
<SEC-HEADER>0001183702-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040902
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040902095057
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183702-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040902
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOW CHEMICAL CO /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000029915
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		IRS NUMBER:				381285128
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2030 DOW CENTER
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48674-2030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5176361000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2030 DOW CENTER
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48674-2030

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERN PAUL G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183702

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03433
		FILM NUMBER:		041012471

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARLINGTON CAPITAL PARTNERS
		STREET 2:		600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20037
		BUSINESS PHONE:		202-337-7500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARLINGTON CAPITAL PARTNERS
		STREET 2:		600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20037
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029915</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DOW CHEMICAL CO /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DOW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183702</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STERN PAUL G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2030 DOW CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48674</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.69</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3850</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3850</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3850</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Final grant under The Dow Chemical Company 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Plan.  Grants are contingent upon increasingly larger holdings of Company stock, based upon seniority.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Size of the grant is determined by a fixed formula based on the current annual Board retainer fee and the price of Company stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">One third of the option shares granted vest and become exercisable on each of the following dates: September 1, 2005; September 1, 2006; and September 1, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tina S. Van Dam for Paul G. Stern</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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