Global round of soda ash increases

摘要

soda ash producers in the USA, Europe and India have made pricing adjustments in recent months response to a combination of regional specific factors that have put pressure on profit margins. While escalating gas and transportation costs have dampened growth of the natural soda ash industry in the USA, synthetic producers in Europe and India have been hit by the rising cost of coke. In the USA, following FMC Wyoming Corp.'s price increase last month, Solvay Chemicals Inc., Searles Valley Minerals (formerly IMC), General Chemical Corp. and OCI Chemical Corp. have announced hikes of 15 dollars/s. ton for off-list prices effective 1 July 2004 with some energy surcharge variations.