DuPont to boost ethylene copolymer, olefin product prices

WILMINGTON, Del. (Oct. 16)—DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers will raise prices Nov. 1 on its U.S. sales of ethylene copolymer and olefin products. Citing rising costs for petrochemical raw materials, utilities and transportation, the company is increasing prices an average of 8 cents per pound. Because the firm´s products are made from natural gas and petroleum derivatives, whose prices have more than doubled in the past 24 months, and experts are projecting these costs will remain at record levels into 2001, DuPont said it and the industry has no choice but to raise prices.