Columbian raises carbon black prices in North America

Marietta, Georgia - Columbian Chemicals Co. is increasing the price of industrial-grade carbon blacks produced at its four North American manufacturing facilities. The increase of 10 percent to 15 percent will be effective on all shipments made on or after September 3. 2007, said the company.

The company blamed the increases on rising feedstock prices and some continued investments in the North American business, focussed primarilly on the restructuring of that business.

"Columbian has taken difficult steps and made appropriate capital investments to ensure the company's operations are aligned with market demand, such as restructuring our Marshall Plant in West Virginia and permanently closing the El Dorado Plant in Arkansas, which had been idled since late 2001,” said Jim Howard, president of Columbian's North American operations.

Columbian currently makes carbon black at four facilities in North America: North Bend, Louisiana; Marshall, West Virginia; Hickock, Kansas and Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. The company closed two lines at the Marshall plant in 2005 and formally closed the plant in El Dorado, Arkansas in August 2006.

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Press release from Columbian