German specialty chemicals producer Lanxess has announced a sharp increase in prices for diphenylamine (DPA) and alkylated diphenylamine (ADPA) on non-contract volumes, citing rising costs for energy, raw materials and logistics.
The move reflects mounting pressure on global supply chains from U.S.- and Israeli-led attacks on Iran, driving up freight costs and complicating supply flows. These developments feed into chemical production costs, particularly for products dependent on globally traded feedstocks.
Lanxess said that despite efforts to mitigate the increase, an adjustment was unavoidable.
“The cost pressures we face, particularly in raw materials, energy and logistics, do not affect all product lines in the same way or at the same time. For this reason, our business units review their cost structures individually and implement price adjustments where necessary to ensure reliable, high-quality supply to our customers, rather than a single, across-the-board increase,” Leanne Trevelline, market and brand communications manager, told Lube Report.
DPA and ADPA are used as antioxidants in lubricants, which Lanxess markets under the Naugalube brand. The company produces DPA in Louisiana in a joint venture with Huntsman Corp. and manufactures ADPA in Canada using its own upstream inputs. It competes with major suppliers including BASF SE, Eastman Chemical Company, SI Group and Arkema. Asian producers, particularly in China, hold a significant share of global capacity.
Production of DPA is closely tied to aniline, a core chemical used across multiple industries. Because aniline costs are sensitive to broader market shifts, price increases can quickly cascade into downstream antioxidant markets.