BASF raises prices for sizing agents and colourants

BASF has announced that with effect from the 1st October, 2007 (as contracts allow), prices for sizing agents and paper colourants will increase by 20%.

The increases affect Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The justification is based on raw material cost increases for products based on ethylene, propylene, fatty alcohols and acids, naphthalene, aniline and amines where costs have been driven upwards by high crude oil prices and energy costs. There is also the recent changes in tax refunds for export business from China combined with a Chinese environmental protection programme which have lead to a reduced supply of key raw materials and an increase in prices for intermediates.

This is yet another announcement by paper chemical suppliers which have struggled to realise price increases in line with increasing raw material costs.