North American Refractories (Narco), of Ohio, US, has announced a series of price increases on refractory products effective with shipments made on or after 1 January 1996.
Narco has increased magnes…
North American Refractories (Narco), of Ohio, US, has announced a series of price increases on refractory products effective with shipments made on or after 1 January 1996. Narco has increased magnesite-based products by 7%, bauxite-based and tabular-based products by 8% and zircon-based and chrome-containing products by 10%. The increases are similar to moves announced earlier by several other US companies, including Harbison-Walker Refractories and National Refractories. According to a company statement, the increases relate solely to the rapidly escalating world prices for refractory-grade raw materials in general and to the imposition of tariffs on magnesite and bauxite exports from China. Narco also claims that other factors, such as the increasing scarcity of refractory-grade chrome ore and zircon-bearing raw material, are forcing prices up dramatically, and that these latter two products are becoming increasingly difficult to procure worldwide.