By David Reed, UT EditorLeverkusen, Germany-Bayer MaterialScience plans to increase the prices in Europe for all of its key polyurethane raw materials, with effect from 1 June, citing increased raw material costs and "unsatisfactory trend in margins," as reasons for the move.The price of MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) for commodity applications will rise by up to €0.40/kg, and for system applications by at most €0.30/kg, effective June 1, 2004. The price of TDI (toluene diisocyanate), one of the other key polyurethane raw materials, will rise by €0.10/kg, while the prices of short-chain polyether polyols and systems will be increased by up to €0.25/kg by 1 June, 2004 at the latest.These price adjustments, which apply to both polymers and monomers, will not affect current contractual obligations, a 25 May statement from Bayer emphasised."
