US MMA makers seek 5-ct plus hikes on feedstock

14 March 2008 20:24  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Feedstock cost pressures were underpinning proposals to raise second-quarter US methyl methacrylate (MMA) prices by at least 5 cents/lb ($110/tonne), sellers said on Friday.

Buyers received second-quarter proposals this week from three of the four major US sellers.

Arkema announced plus 7 cents/lb (€99/tonne) on MMA effective on 1 April.

Lucite announced plus 5.5 cents/lb with an additive 3.5 cents/lb temporary voluntary allowance (TVA). Lucite told buyers it would pursue the TVA if it incurred extraordinary, unforeseen cost increases in the second quarter.

Rohm and Haas also announced plus $110/tonne (5 cents/lb) globally, a buyer said.

It was not yet known what MMA producer CYRO would do.

Prices settled up by 8 cents/lb for first-quarter contracts, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

MMA prices in the US are just under $1/lb for contract buyers, a seller said.

While US MMA supply looks largely balanced, rising prices of crude and upstream chemicals like acetone, methanol, natural gas and ammonia continue to keep production costs high, a producer said.

($1 = €0.64)

For more on methyl methacrylate visit ICIS chemical intelligence

By: Heather McGuire Doyle
+1 713 525 2653

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