Midland - May 28, 2008
Midland– Last week the Dow Chemical Company made the announcement that on June 1 this year, it will raise the price of all its products by up to 20 percent due to surging energy costs. The exact amount of the increase depends on a product’s exposure to rising energy, feedstock and transportation costs. Dow has taken care to communicate all the terms with its customers.
Andrew N. Liveris, Dow chairman and CEO, said the price increases and reviews are essential as the company attempts to mitigate the extraordinary rise in energy and related raw material costs.
“Our first quarter feedstock and energy bill leaped a staggering 42 percent year over year, and that trajectory has continued, with the cost of oil and natural gas climbing ever higher,” Liveris said. “The new level of hydrocarbons and energy costs is putting a strain on the entire value chain and is forcing difficult discussions with customers about resetting the value proposition for our products.”
Dow spent $8 billion on energy and hydrocarbon-based feedstock costs in 2002. At the current rate, those costs would climb to $32 billion this year.
“In addition to these price increases,” Liveris said, “the Company is continuing its aggressive cost-control plan internally and is accelerating its existing top-down competitiveness review for all of its businesses and manufacturing facilities in the light of these new feedstock and energy prices.”
About Dow
For Editorial Information:
Doritha Erwee
The Dow Chemical Company
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