Price Revisions for EVOH products (EVAL)

Kuraray announces the decision to increase the prices of its EVOH products (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer; Kuraray trademark: EVAL) for shipments commencing December 1, 2018. Details of the price revisions are given below.

Due to increasing the price of the main raw material used in producing EVAL and the production costs including utilities, the profitability has been deteriorating.

Under these circumstances, Kuraray has decided to implement the following price revisions for EVAL.
The price revisions are implemented in global basis.

1. Scope of revisions: EVOH products (EVAL)

2. Price increases:

Japan - ¥ 30 per kilogram

Asia Pacific - US$0.30 per kilogram

3. Effective date: Shipments from December 1, 2018

With the release of EVAL in 1972, Kuraray became the first company in the world to develop and commercialize a high-functional resin, which boasts the highest level of gas barrier properties of any plastic (approximately 10,000 times that of general-purpose polyethylene). Given these properties, EVAL is employed for a variety of applications, including as excellent wrapping material for preserving food and containers for cosmetics and chemicals. In the context of the strict gasoline fuel emission controls in recent years, EVAL’s use as a material for automotive fuel tanks has been expanding, as it facilitates weight reduction and molding. Furthermore, the use of EVAL in wall coverings and floor heating and pipes for floor heating systems as well as other home and everyday products has been growing and demand has been expanding worldwide.