Consumables
BASF to increase prices for acrylic monomers
Wednesday 27. May 2009 - Effective June 1, 2009 BASF will increase its prices for acrylic acid and acrylic esters (glacial acrylic acid; methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate) in Europe/Africa/Middle East by 100 per metric ton and in North and South America by 5 cents/lb ($110 per metric ton) as far as existing contracts permit.
This is the companys reaction to increasing raw material costs and ongoing inadequate margins.
In Asia price increases have already been implemented in April depending on country-specific aspects.
Acrylic acid is the main precursor in the production of superabsorbent polymers, materials which absorb many times their own weight in liquid and are mainly used in diapers and other hygienic products. Other acrylic acid derivatives are pure acrylate dispersions of the kind used for binders in varnishes and paints, and acrylic acid ester, also known as acrylate. These monomeric building blocks are used to manufacture the polymer dispersions contained as a functional component in architectural coatings, adhesives, fiber binders, products for the construction chemicals industry and coatings for the paper industry.