German chemicals giant BASF announced a 15% increase in the price of all its wet-end paper chemicals in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Effective September 1, 2008, the rise responds "to significant rises in key raw material costs,” stated BASF in a release.
Wet-end refers to the beginning of the paper manufacturing process, where it is still a mixture of fibre and water and where chemical additives may be used.
This announcement from a leading supplier of the paper and cardboard industry confirms the trend toward “unavoidable” price increases in this sector.
