Zeon raises SR, latex and chemicals prices

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Tokyo-Zeon Corp. announced price increases for a range of synthetic rubber and latex products, 24 Dec. These rises follow a 1 Dec announcement from the Japanese supplier of a rise in prices for various chemicals.

Zeon attributes these increases to the need to raise product profitability, which, “has continued to suffer due to price hikes of crude oil and naphtha, despite our continuing efforts to reduce manufacturing costs,” according to a statement from the firm.

The rubber and latex increase take effect 15 Jan 2005.

Zeon's price rises are as follows (14 yen/kg=0.1 Euros/kg).

• SBR, Non-oil extended 14 yen/kg

Oil extended 12 yen/kg

• BR 13 yen/kg

• HSD 16 yen/kg

• NBR 27 yen/kg

• HNBR 27 yen/kg

• PB 23 yen/kg

• IR 11 yen/kg

• ESC 19 yen/kg

• CHR 19 yen/kg

• AR 71 yen/kg

• CM (A price increase subject to any further revision of pricing for polymers and subsidiary materials)

SB latex 18 yen/kg (dry)

NBR latex 27 yen/kg (dry)

VP latex 12 yen/kg (dry)

Acrylate latex 18 yen/kg (dry)

The 1 Dec rise in chemicals prices included a rise of 12 yen/kg for both Zeon's styrene-isoprene-styrene thermoplastic elastomer (Quintac) and for its hydrocarbon resin (Quintone).