Several companies recently announced price increases for chemicals sold into the lubricants industry. Higher raw materials costs received some, but not all of the blame.
Troy Corp. said it will raise prices on defoamers and additives by 3 percent and that price tags on some Troysan-branded bactericides will be marked up between 4 cents and 15 cents per pound, all effective July 5. In addition, the Florham Park, N.J., performance chemical manufacturer will hike rates for large and small steel drums by 3 cents and 13 cents per pound, respectively.
The U.S. subsidiary of German chemical supplier BASF raised prices on Plurasafe polyalkylene glycols andwater glycols and Pluracol functional fluids June 1. The increases ranged between 3 and 4.5 cents per pound, depending on the product. Parent company BASF Aktiengesellschaft is based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the U.S. subsidiary in Mount Olive, N.J.
Troy and BASF both attributed their increases to rising costs for raw materials, while Troy added that energy costs have also risen.
Dow Chemical said it will raise North American prices on di-and triethanolamines by 5 cents per pound and on monoethanolamines by 8 cents per pound, all effective July 1. The products are used as corrosion inhibitors in lubricants and metalworking fluids. The Midland, Mich., chemical giant said its decision was based on the fact that the global market for ethanolamines has returned to balance after oversupply drove down prices last year.