By Liz White, UT contributing editorLeverkusen, Germany-Bayer MaterialScience AG is to raise its prices for saturated and unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins and hydroxyl acrylates, by up to Euro 0.45 per kilogram ($0.6/kg, $0.27/lb) from 1 Jan 2005. The group is taking this action following "constant cost increases for the feedstocks," which means that "profitability of these products has been declining for some time now," BMS said in a statement."Despite wide-ranging measures to enhance cost effectiveness, no lasting improvement has been achieved in the earnings situation," BMS continued. With persistent erosion of margins, BMS said it is finding it hard to safeguard sufficient production capacities. The group added that all existing contracts will be met. BMS' saturated and unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins and hydroxyl acrylates are used as raw materials in making high-quality surface coatings, polyurethane foams, elastomers and adhesives, and other products."
