The Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates announced price increases for acrylic acid and esters, also known as acrylic monomers or acrylates, effective July 1, 2007, or as otherwise allowed by individual contract terms.
    
Dow increased prices for glacial acrylic acid, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.
    
“The need for these increases is driven by an industry-wide butanol and 2-ethylhexyl supply/demand imbalance,” said Mark Bassett, global business director for the acrylic monomers business of The Dow Chemical Company. “This has reached such a critical point that production is not able to meet demand. This increase also attempts to recover increases in the cost of raw materials such as propylene and natural gas.”
    
The Dow Chemical Company also increased the North American price of its Carbowax and Carbowax Sentry polyethylene and methoxypolyethylene glycols by $0.03 per pound, effective June 1, 2007. This price increase is driven by strong demand and persistently high raw material costs. They are used in applications such as adhesives, cosmetics/personal care, household products, pharmaceuticals, printing and inks, textiles, wood treating and more. Dow Chemical also increased the North American price of its Tergitol NPE surfactants by $0.03 per pound, effective June 1, 2007.