Dow Biocides announced the cancellation of off-list prices for glutaraldehyde products used in metalworking fluids, and Kraton Polymers said it would raise prices on SEBS and SEPS based polymers and compounds in the North American market.
Dow Biocides, a Buffalo Grove, Ill.-based business unit of Dow Chemical, yesterday said it would cancel all off-list prices for all glutaraldehyde products and grades effective April 1 or as contracts allow. Applications for the biocides include metalworking fluids, water treatment, sanitizers and preservatives.
Globally, glutaraldehyde remains in short supply while growth rates remain at record levels, said Nanette Hermsen, global marketing manager for Dow Biocides. Costs continue to escalate in this highly regulated industry leading to continued upward cost pressures in the market. These increased pressures make it imperative that the product is at reinvestment levels in order to continue to grow with market demand.
Glutaraldehyde from Dow Biocides is sold under a number of trade names, including Ucarcide, Ucarsan, Aqucar, Glutex and as industrial use product named Glutaraldehyde 25% and 50%. Dow also offers the glutaraldehyde products under at least 100 sub-registrations as customer-branded products.
Houston-based Kraton yesterday said that effective May 1 or as contracts permit, it will implement a general price increase of $440 per metric ton, or 20 cents per pound, on its HSBC product portfolio, defined as its SEBS (styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene) and SEPS (styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene) based polymers and compounds. The company said it continues to experience unprecedented cost increases derived from raw materials, energy and packaging costs.
Kratons polymers are used in lubricants and other applications ranging from personal care to paving. The company has production facilities in the United States, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Brazil and Japan.