Kuraray raising elastomer prices globally

Tokyo – Kuraray’s elastomers business unit is raising prices for a range of elastomer materials in all regions, effective 3 Oct, or as existing supply agreements allow.

A price hike of $0.22/kg will affect all Septon, Hybrar and TU-Polymer, said Kuraray in a 1 Oct statement.

The Japanese supplier linked the decision to “increasing feedstock, process chemical, utility, logistics, maintenance, and other costs.”

Such costs, it said, “have reached a level beyond unilaterally absorbable by self-saving efforts.”

“It is necessary to recover a portion of these increases to ensure ongoing supply and new product innovation,” it added.

Septon is described as a recyclable TPE with ‘high elasticity, high strength, weather resistance, low-temperature properties, chemical resistance, heat aging resistance, and electrical insulation properties.’

The material can be used in various applications including automotive parts, medical parts and sporting goods.

Hybrar is listed as ‘a triblock co-polymer with polystyrene end-blocks and polydiene mid-block.’