Dow will implement a 5 cents/lb ($110/mt) increase on all polyethylene grades sold in Mexico effective August 15, the company said Monday in a letter to customers obtained by S&P Global Platts.
The price hike follows an announced increase in Brazil last week of Real 350/mt ($106/mt) and in Chile at $110/mt, effective August 1.
A source with knowledge of business operations said the increases are part of a price hike throughout all of Latin America and added they are exploring similar hikes in the Andean region and Argentina.
The announcement comes amid higher import pricing for product from the US due to tightness in the market, specifically for film grades, sources said.
Platts on Monday assessed HDPE blowmolding at 50-51 cents/lb, LLDPE butene at 56-57 cents/lb, and LDPE at 59.5-60.5 cents/lb on a FAS Houston delivered rail car basis.
US export rail car pricing is closely tied to the domestic Mexican PE market, according to market feedback.