Ciba last week announced a global increase in prices for lubricant additives, and Oxiteno yesterday said it would raise prices on surfactants in the United States and Canada.
Basel, Switzerland-based Ciba Specialty Chemicals on Friday said that effective March 1 or as contracts allow, it would increase prices on lubricant additives by 3 to 11 percent. The products are sold into lubricant applications primarily under the trade names Ciba Irganox, Irgalube, Irgacor, Irgamet and Irgafos.
The price increase is necessary to address a significant escalation in the cost of raw materials and energy for our lubricant additives late last year, said Douglas Brown, global head of Cibas process and lubricant additives business.
South American surfactant manufacturer Oxiteno announced price increases in the United States and Canada, effective April 1, of 3 cents per pound to 10 cents/lb. on alkyl phenol ethoxylates, polyethylene glycols and polysorbates.
Oxiteno cited continued cost increases in raw materials and energy as well as very strong demand as reasons for the price changes. The companys products are sold in the North American market under trade names including Canasol, Canapeg, Canarcel, Istemul and Polimix.
A member of the Brazilian conglomerate Ultrapar Participacoes S.A., Oxiteno operates five facilities in Brazil, three in Mexico, and one in Venezuela, along with a commercial office in Argentina. Last fall the company opened a commercial office in New Jersey as a sales office for North America, for production out of Oxitenos plants in Mexico and Brazil.