Kuraray hiking elastomer prices globally

Tokyo - Kuraray Co. Ltd is raising the prices for some of its elastomer products, due mainly to increasing cost of raw materials.

Effective 1 March, the Japanese group is raising the prices for Septon and Hybar hydrogenated styrene thermoplastic elastomers as well as TU polymers by $0.33/kg globally.

In a 16 Feb announcement, the group cited “the soaring prices of key raw materials… including butadiene” as the reason for the price hike.

The costs, it said, “have exceeded the scope of our ability to absorb these costs through our own efforts.”

Under these circumstances, Kuraray said it decided to implement the price revisions in order to improve profitability and maintain a stable supply.

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.’