Degussa-Huls raises Europe rubber blacks prices again

11 February 2000 11:04  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Degussa-Huls, the German specialty chemicals company, announced on Friday another increase in European rubber blacks prices - the third rise in the last four months.

It said prices for its range of rubber blacks would go up by an average of Euro22 a tonne from 15 March.

Degussa-Huls, which claims to be the world's second-largest carbon black manufacturer, said the rise was needed to reflect dramatic increases in crude oil prices and carbon black feedstock costs.

Stephan Immer, a sales manager for Degussa-Huls carbon black products, told CNI that the latest price rise varied between 2% and 3.5% depending on grade. He explained that the increase would average between 2.5% and 3.5% for hard and soft grades, and would be around 2% for special blacks.

The company raised European rubber blacks prices by Euro25/tonne on 17 January (an average rise of 3-5% depending upon grade). However, it is understood that this increase was not fully realised.

In common with most other carbon blacks manufacturers, Degussa-Huls has seen its profit margins squeezed by rising feedstock costs. The latest rubber blacks price rise, even if accepted in full by its customers, is thought unlikely to fully keep pace with the higher cost of feedstock.

By: Neil Sinclair
+44 20 8652 3214

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