MIDLAND, Mich. (May 20)—Dow Chemical Co. will increase the prices for all pure and polymeric methylene diphenylene isocyanate products by 9 cents a pound on June 1.
It also will boost the price for Voranol, Voralux and Specflex polyether and copolymer polyols by 7 cents per pound at the same time. The price hikes apply to all flexibles, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and rigid market segments and end-use applications in the U.S. and Canada, the company said.
Rising global costs for light and heavy feedstocks were the primary reason given for the increases. "In particular, the pricing of natural gas, propylene and benzene has an enormous impact on the cost to manufacture polyurethane materials," said Chuck Reardon, North American product market manager for Dow Chemical.
The company noted, too, that continued strong demand for MDI products compounds an existing tight supply situation in the industry globally. The tight supply is expected to continue for the near future, the firm said.