Malmo, Sweden-based Perstorp Oxo AB increased prices effective May 1, or as contracts allow, on n-valeric acid – a carboxylic acid used in esters for synthetic lubricants – citing supply and demand and rapidly increasing costs. For bulk, the increases are by $250 per metric ton in Europe, 14 cents per pound in the United States and $300/t in the rest of the world. For its packed form, the increases are by $415/t in Europe, 23 cents/lb. in the U.S. and $500/t in the rest of the world.