Ashland Hercules Water Technologies to increase prices on wet strength resins and sizing agents globally

WILMINGTON, Del. — Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), will increase prices on Jan. 14 for its portfolio of wet strength resins and sizing agents by 5 to 20 percent. In certain regions of the world, price increases may exceed 20 percent.

“The steep price escalation of several critical raw materials, coupled with increased energy and transportation costs, has pushed us to adjust our prices accordingly,” said Bill Wallace, global wet strength business director, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies. 

Eric Popham, global sizing business director, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, said, “Cost escalation has hit our alkaline, rosin and surface sizing solutions over the past few quarters. In order to maintain the supply and quality our customers have come to expect, we will need to adjust our prices accordingly.”

Both directors remain determined to continue to work in partnership with clients to help offset or mitigate these cost increases. Responding to changing market conditions allows Ashland to continue to provide innovative products and industry-leading support that add value for customers.

Ashland Hercules Water Technologies is the number one global producer of papermaking chemicals and is a leading specialty chemicals supplier to the pulp and paper, industrial and institutional, mining and municipal markets. Its water treatment, process and functional chemistries are used to improve operational efficiencies, to enhance product quality, to protect plant assets and to ensure environmental compliance.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our five commercial units – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution.

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