November 19, 2008 -- Albemarle Corp., a developer of aluminum trihydroxide and other specialty aluminas for flame retardants, fillers and other industrial applications, announced that it will increase prices for these products by 15 to 25 percent on all shipments made on or after January 1, 2009, or as contracts allow. The company says the increases are needed to help offset the rapidly escalating raw material prices, raw material freight costs and energy costs required to manufacture these products.
The price increases will take effect for all of the following Albemarle products: the MARTINAL aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) flame retardants; the MARTIFIN aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) for paper application; the MARTOXID specialty aluminum oxide products; and the COMPALOX activated aluminum oxide.
"Raw material prices continue to escalate, particularly for crude ATH and energy, and these costs have forced us to raise prices for our own products as well," comments Wolfgang Hardtke, global business director of aluminum specialty chemicals. "Coal and lignite prices are steadily growing and we are evaluating the impact of CO2 emission certificates on our business. We remain focused and committed to delivering high quality products that deliver value to our customers."
Plastics compounders and polymer manufacturers use Albemarle's MARTINAL flame retardants and technical services to add life-saving properties to wire and cable, roofing, flooring, pipe and other building and construction materials. The MARTINAL fillers are also used to improve injection-molded plastic parts, insulating foams and certain electrical and electronic parts.
Albemarle's specialty ATH products are applied as fillers and coating pigments in the paper and board industry (MARTIFIN specialty pigments); as high-quality calcined aluminas for the industrial ceramics, refractory, and surface treatment industries (MARTOXID aluminum oxides); and as adsorbents and catalysts in chemical processes and environmental protection (COMPALOX activated aluminas).
Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, produces the specialty chemicals for consumer electronics; transportation and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; agricultural products; construction and packaging materials. The company's three business segments, Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals, serve customers in nearly 100 countries, generating annual revenue of approximately $2.4 billion.
On the Web:
www.albemarle.com