Sabic Innovative Plastics is raising prices for two brands of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in North America effective Feb.22, according to a letter from the company to customers.

The proposed increase is 9 cents per pound (USD198 per tonne) for general-purpose ABS and 13 cents per pound (USD268 per tonne) for fire-resistant ABS, the letter said.

Earlier it was reported that Sabic raised ABS prices by 7 cents per pound from February 1 and by 9 cents per pound from January 11 amid rising supply and demand. The company has raised ABS prices by 7 cents per pound since December 1.

ABS supplies to the United States have recently been limited due to a shortage of imports, strong demand and the fact that potential buyers are faced with long delivery times.

According to the ICIS-MRC Price Review, ABS imports to Russia grew by 2% in the eleven months of 2020 compared to the same period last year and amounted to 32 thousand tons against 31.3 thousand tons. The share of South Korean supplies amounted to 62% (19.9 thousand tons) against 58% (18.2 thousand tons) in January-November 2019.

North American ABS manufacturers include A Schulman, INEOS Styrolution, Sabic and Trinseo.