MIDLAND, Mich. (Oct. 3)—Dow Chemical Co. will raise prices Nov. 1 in the U.S. and Canada for polyurethane raw materials toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and polyols and in Europe for TDI and polyols.
In North America, Dow will raise the price for its Vorante TDI by 25 cents a pound, for its Voranol, Voralux and Specflex polyether and copolymer polyols by 10 cents a pound, and for MDI by 7 cents a pound.
Dow blamed the increases on "persistently high and volatile" energy and raw material costs.
"This already challenging environment has been further exacerbated by the recent hurricanes," said Pat Dawson, Dow business vice president, polyurethanes and thermoset systems, "which have caused significant logistical issues resulting from damage to the transportation infrastructure, as well as impacted raw material and natural gas availability. The full impact of these events is still unfolding and their collateral effect continues to be assessed."
Dow also said its internal cost-containment efforts have not been able offset the raw materials and energy cost increases.
In Europe, Dow will raise the price for TDI by $238 per metric ton and for polyols by $178 per ton. Similar price increases are being implemented in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent, Dow said.