Dow Reichhhold lifts price of nitrile butadiene latex by 5 percent

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina -- Dow Reichhold Speciality Latex has raised the price of its nitrile butadiene latex, used in glove manufacture, by five percent worldwide.

The company blamed the price hike on the continuing rise in the cost of raw materials and energy.

Rob Ewing, global marketing manager for the glove industry at Dow Reichhold, said synthetic polymer producers had been forced to develop a pricing strategy based on current supply and demand in raw materials.

''The raw materials market continues to be a challenge," he said.

''Methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile and, to a lesser extent, butadiene have been impacted by feedstock availability as well as supply constrictions.

''Coupled with demand that is reaching ten year highs in some applications, the result is a new level of pricing that we believe will be with us well into the future.''