MOSCOW (MRC) -- Epsilyte (The Woodlands, Texas) has announced a further rise in its prices for all grades of expandable polystyrene (EPS), citing increased cost volatility and current global EPS market supply dynamics, according to Chemweek.
The price of its EPS grades will increase by 7 cents/pound (cts/lb), effective 15 March 2021 or as contracts permit, it says.
The company raised its EPS prices by an additional 12 cts/lb on 1 March due to continued increases in feedstock costs, on top of a previously planned increase for 1 March of 5 cts/lb.
It also implemented price rises in January and February this year citing similar reasons.
EPS is a rigid form of polystyrene (PS) used in insulation foams for the construction industry as well as for packaging.
According to ICIS-MRC Price report, under the pressure of a major increase in monomer prices in foreign markets, Plastik, Uzlovaya raised its EPS prices by Rb15,000/tonne this month. Prices of Plastik, Uzlovaya's EPS reached record highs and were in the range of Rb141,000-143,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT. Prices of SIBUR-Khimprom's EPS will also increase. The plant's March prices still remained at the negotiation stage, the producer plans to announce them to market participants this week.
Epsilyte is owned by private equity firm Balmoral Funds (Los Angeles, California).
MRC