Luzenac to raise talc prices

(Oct. 23)—Talc producer Luzenac Group will raise prices 5 percent to 8 percent Jan. 1, 2000, the company announced, citing rising energy costs with simultaneous customer demand for lower prices as prompting its decision. "The talc industry is no longer able to compensate for the deterioration of its economic margins with production efficiency increases," Luzenac said in a press release. "We must restore the industry´s margin if we are to remain a reliable supplier of talc, talc-use innovation and technical assistance."