Orion to increase prices for rubber blacks in North America

Kingwood, Texas – Orion Engineered Carbons is increasing prices for its rubber carbon black materials in North America effective 1 June.

As part of this, invoice prices for rubber carbon blacks will be adjusted by an average of $121 per tonne, contracts permitting.

The 20 April announcement came a week after US-based competitor Cabot Corp. unveiled plans to increase rubber black prices in North America on the same date.

Orion cited “increasing operating and logistic expenses and the costs required to maintain service levels” among the reasons for the price hikes.

These price increases, added Orion, would help “substantial investments” in its North American rubber carbon black production.

Boston-based Cabot announced 13 April that prices for certain carbon black products would increase by roughly $100 per tonne with a hike of 4% to go on several others.

Cabot, too, blamed “persistently rising costs” for the decision.