October 25, 2007 – Citing unabating high prices for raw materials, Rohm and Haas Co. says it will implement a 5%-15% price increase across most of its chemical products starting Nov. 1.

Earlier in the year prices for raw materials including propylene, ethylene, methanol, and metals such as tin, were projected to peak around midyear and trail off in 2H07, and so the company relied on “internal controls” to keep its own costs down and prevent having to pass any cost increases on to customers.

“However, raw material prices have not come down — in fact, they have continued to increase and have remained persistently high, with no real relief expected in the near future,” noted Pierre Brondeau, EVP for Rohm and Haas’ specialty materials unit, in a statement. With the company having absorbed an extra >$100M in raw materials costs, “our only choice is to seek product price increases.”