MARIETTA, Ga. (Aug. 15) — Columbian Chemicals Co. is increasing the price of industrial-grade carbon blacks produced at its four North American manufacturing facilities. The increase of 10-15 percent will be effective on all shipments made on or after Sept. 3, the company said.
The company blamed the increases on rising feedstock prices and some continued investments in the North American business, focused primarily on the restructuring of that business.
Jim Howard, president of Columbian´s North American operations, said the firm has taken difficult steps and made appropriate capital investments to ensure the company´s operations are aligned with market demand, such as restructuring its Marshall, W.Va., plant and permanently closing the El Dorado Plant in Arkansas, which had been idled since late 2001.
Columbian makes carbon black at four facilities in North America: North Bend, La.; Marshall; Hickock, Kan.; and Hamilton, Ontario.
The company closed two lines at the Marshall plant in 2005 and closed its facility in El Dorado, Ark., in August 2006.