Zeon raising synthetic rubber compound pricing

Tokyo – Zeon Corp. is increasing prices for synthetic rubber (SR) compounds and polyblends as of 1 April.

In a statement 16 March, the Japanese group said it was raising the prices for SR compound products by Yen20/kg.

The company did not specify which compounds are targeted by the price revision.

According to its website, Zeon produces a broad ranges of rubber compounds, including styrene-butadiene rubber; polybutadiene rubber; polyisoprene rubber; acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR); epichlorohydrin rubber; polyacrylate rubber and hydrogenated nitrile rubber.

The price revision also includes a Yen15/kg increase for NBR/PVC polyblends.

Zeon cited the environment surrounding the SR business for the price adjustment.

“The cost of compounding agents used in synthetic rubber compound products is rising, and various expenses, including utility costs, continue to soar,” it said.

Zeon said it had made efforts to absorb the expenses internally, but was no longer able to continue it due to the recent “severe economic environment”.