Cabot says Louisiana plants operating at full capacity; warns on Q4 profit

Boston, Massachusetts -- Cabot Corp. has said that all employees and their families at its two Louisiana carbon black facilities are safe and accounted for. The company operates facilities in both Franklin and Ville Platte, Louisiana. Management teams and employees at both plants are assisting local efforts to provide short-term relief to those hit by the disaster.

In a statement, the company added, "Neither plant was significantly damaged by hurricane Katrina and both are currently operating at full capacity giving us the ability to meet customer orders. Transportation delays remain a major concern as New Orleans serves as a key transportation hub and supply base for both Louisiana facilities. The company continues to work with contingency plans to move raw material and product in and out of the plants."

The company continued, "Increases in the cost of both carbon black feedstock and natural gas in recent months have been exacerbated by the effects of hurricane Katrina. The continued increase in carbon black raw material costs from third quarter levels will have a negative impact on the company's profitability of as much as ten cents for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005. It is probable that the effects will continue into the first quarter of fiscal year 2006."

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Press release from Cabot