Chemical prices continue to rise, with several suppliers announcing new increases. Pilot Chemical, Dow, Goldschmidt Chemical and Lanxess all said they were passing on sharp jumps in costs for raw materials and energy.
Pilot said it will raise prices on alkyl aryl sulfonates and acids by 2 cents to 3 cents per pound, effective Nov. 15. The Cincinnati company cited substantial cost increases for feedstock, freight and energy. Sulfonates are used in lubricants as dispersants and to neutralize the by-products of combustion.
Dow imposed an across-the-board increase of 10 cents per pound yesterday on chelating agents, which are used in metalworking and other applications as cleaners and corrosion inhibitors. Dows products are marketed under the Versene brand name.
The company, which is based in Midland, Mich., also announced allocations of 100 percent, meaning customers will be restricted to average monthly volumes or contract volumes, whichever is less.
We must implement these increases in order offset the rising costs to manufacture and transport our products and remain a strong and reliable supplier, Versene Marketing Manager Kevin Lewis said.
Separately, Dow raised list and off-list prices for UCon fluids and lubricants in North America by 5 cents to 10 cents per pound, likewise effective yesterday.
Goldschmidtimposed double-digitpercent hikes across all business lines, including products sold into the lubricants industry.A division of German specialty chemical maker Degussa, announced its increases Oct. 12 but make them retroactive to Oct. 1.
Lanxess raised global prices for activated hydrazine hydrate marketed under the Levoxin brand by as much as 350 Euro (U.S. $420) per ton, effective yesterday. The product is used to inhibit corrosion in steam generation and heating systems. Lanxess, which is based in Leverkusen, Germany, cited dramatic increases in energy and raw material costs.