Index will move up by year-end

By Staff -- Purchasing, 9/1/1998

The downward price spiral may be ending for some commodity chemicals. Buyers are forecasting higher prices for titanium dioxide, caustic soda, and benzene. Some other tags, including methanol and chlorine, are flattening out. These two trends are affecting Purchasing's index of commodity chemical prices. In July, the index flattened out, rising only 0.1 point to 94.3. Longer term, Purchasing expects the index to slowly rise, moving up to an average of 97.0 in the fourth quarter.

Benzene prices remained depressed, averaging 80(cent)/gal in July, but are forecast to climb to 95(cent)/gal in six months. Chlorine and hydrochloric acid contracts will continue to remain stable at an average of $220/ton and $90/ton, respectively. Methanol tags are stabilizing at an average of 40(cent)/gal.

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