DONALDSONVILLE, LA. - Melamine Chemicals Inc. announced a price increase for its melamine crystal, effective Oct. 1. The Donaldsonville company said prices for ground melamine will increase 1 cent per pound and prices for its unground, general-purpose crystal and Superfine products will go up 2 cents per pound.
Wayne D. DeLeo, vice president and chief financial officer, said the increase is the result of higher costs for raw materials, mainly urea.
``The price we are paying for urea is the highest we've seen since 1987,'' he said.
However, President and Chief Executive Fred Huber said the company is encouraged by some signs of moderating raw material cost increases.
``World ammonia prices, which drive such downstream products as urea and melamine, are very high, but steady, and offer some measure of stability for future melamine pricing,'' he said.