OQ Chemicals announced on Feb. 14 that due to supply and demand and increased raw material costs, it will increase prices for isononanoic acid, used in synthetic lubricants, effective immediately by $350 per metric ton in Europe, 19 cents per pound in North America and Mexico and $420/t in the rest of the world.  Japan’s sales of new motorcycles increased 24% to 29,091 in January, compared to 23,428 in the same month last year, according to data released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.