Styron increases prices of polycarbonate and PC blends in the Americas

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Styron LLC, the global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber, has announced an increase in the selling price of polycarbonate (PC) and polycarbonate blends in the Americas, including Mexico, reported the company on its site.

Effective February 17, 2014, or as existing contract terms allow, Styron's PC prices will rise as follows:

- CALIBRE polycarbonate resins: USD0.08 USD/lb;
- PULSE engineering resins: USD0.08 USD/lb;
- EMERGE PC advanced resins: USD0.08 USD/lb;
- EMERGE PC/ABS advanced resins: USD0.08 USD/lb;
- EMERGE PC/PET advanced resins: USD0.05 USD/lb.

This price increase is in response to the escalation in key raw materials used in the manufacturing process of polycarbonate and is in addition to all previously announced increases.

As MRC informed earlier, Styron LLC increased its selling January price of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) in the Americas. Effective January 2, 2014, or as existing contract terms allow, prices of MAGNUM ABS resins rose by USD0.04 USD/lb. This price increase was in response to the escalation in key raw materials used in the manufacturing process of ABS and is in addition to all previously announced increases.

Styron is a leading global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber, dedicated to collaborating with customers to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions. Styron’s technology is used by customers in industries such as home appliances, automotive, building & construction, carpet, consumer electronics, consumer goods, electrical & lighting, medical, packaging, paper & paperboard, rubber goods and tires. Styron had approximately USD 5.5 billion in revenue in 2012, with 20 manufacturing sites around the world.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Wacker Polymers is to raise its prices for dispersions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), as well as in Asia, as per the company's statement.

Effective March 1, 2014, prices for VINNAPAS vinyl acetate-ethylene (EVA) and VINNOL ethylene-vinyl chloride-based (EVCL) copolymer dispersions in EMEA will be increased by up to EUR30/tonne, or as customer contracts allow.

In Asia, prices for VINNAPAS EVA copolymer dispersions will be raised by up to 5% per kilogram, or as allowed by individual contract terms. This measure has been necessitated by the continued increase in raw-material cost.

As MRC wrote before, in February 2013, Wacker Chemie AG officially launched its new production plant for EVA dispersions at its Ulsan site in South Korea. The additional 40,000 tonnes from the second reactor line increased the site's EVA-dispersion capacity to a total of 90,000 tonnes per year. Thus, the production capacity of the site almost doubled, making the plant complex one of the biggest of its kind in South Korea.

Dispersions of the VINNAPAS and VINNOL brand are applied in a broad variety of industries, ranging from adhesives, construction, nonwovens, paints and coatings to paper, carpet and textiles.

Wacker Polymers is a leading producer of state-of-the-art binders and polymeric additives based on polyvinyl acetate and vinyl acetate copolymers. These take the form of dispersible polymer powders, dispersions, solid resins, and solutions. They are used in construction chemicals, paints, surface coatings, adhesives and nonwovens, and in fiber composites and polymeric materials based on renewable resources. WACKER POLYMERS has production sites in Germany, China, South Korea and the USA, as well as a global sales network and technology centers in all major regions.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The specialty chemicals group ALTANA has acquired technologies and customer-specific know-how in the field of polypropylene wax emulsions from Royal DSM, said ALTANA in its press-release.

The products can be used to coat glass fibers which are needed for the manufacturing of composites. They are typically used in the construction industry and the automotive sector. "This acquisition is another consistent step along our path of growth," said Dr. Matthias L. Wolfgruber, CEO of ALTANA AG. Within the ALTANA group, the polypropylene wax emulsion business will be integrated into BYK Additives & Instruments, the division with the highest sales volume.

"This acquisition expands our existing portfolio in the field of wax emulsions, and now enables us to offer customers an even broader range of additive solutions," explained Dr. Christoph Schlunken, President of the BYK Division. Just recently, in October 2013, BYK also acquired Rockwood’s rheology business.?

ALTANA develops and produces high-quality, innovative products in the specialty chemicals business. The ALTANA Group has four divisions: BYK Additives & Instruments, ECKART Effect Pigments, ELANTAS Electrical Insulation, and ACTEGA Coatings & Sealants. All of these divisions occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation and service.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.
MRC