Kuraray to raise prices for elastomers, liquid rubbers

Tokyo – Kuraray has announced price hikes across a number of its products, citing rising feedstock and logistics costs.

The Japanese group will increase prices by $0.66/kg for its Septon, Hybrar and TU-Polymer elastomers globally, effective 16 April, said Kuraray 24 March.

The increase, said Kuraray, is in response to “increasing feedstock prices and logistics costs” that have exceeded the level that can be absorbed through internal cost-saving efforts.

Separately, Kuraray said it is increasing the price for its liquid rubber products and Isobam polymer by “at least $2.00/kg”.

The hikes, said the group, are driven by rising raw material, energy and logistics costs.

Kuraray cited an increasingly volatile supply environment, noting that “the supply environment for crude oil and petroleum products from the Middle East has become significantly unstable.”

As a result, “sharp increases in raw materials, energy, and logistics costs have exceeded the level that can be absorbed through internal cost-saving efforts,” the company said.

Kuraray added that the price increases were required “in order to continue the supply… while maintaining sustainable business operations.”