However, not everyone is as confident as DiMino. "Raw materials currently have had the largest impact, with dramatic increases in costs for natural gas and benzene," said Donna Babcock, North American marketing manager of Dow Latex for Dow Chemical Co. "The pricing of natural gas has hit three times the traditional pricing from $2/MMBTU to $6/MMBTU. These increases resulted from inadequacy of supply and rising demand. … As natural gas has started to level out at high prices, we have now seen benzene continue to skyrocket. In the last three months, pricing is now at record levels with contract price trading at $3.07/gallon and will likely continue to increase. Dow has announced $.09 in increases this year. If this cost trend continues, we will require more price increases."
- Companies:
- MWV - MeadWestvaco