Columbian Chemicals to hike prices

MARIETTA, Ga. (April 19)—Columbian Chemicals Co. will increase prices for all grades of carbon black worldwide. While it did not give a price hike breakdown, the company said the move was necessitated by the need to sustain necessary investments in its plants and to comply with stringent environmental, quality and technological requirements placed on companies in the industry. "In addition, we need to be able to make future investments so we can continue to offer customers a value package that includes quality, service, technical assistance, superior products and technological innovation," Columbian President Jim Berresse said in a prepared statement.