Peter R. Huntsman, president and CEO of Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals, has called further surge in natural gas prices "outrageous and unnecessary."

"Natural gas futures trading, which influences the price that all consumers must pay, remains badly out of control," said Mr. Huntsman.

"Government statistics show that demand for natural gas has fallen for five consecutive years. Production continues to outpace demand. The US has the third highest amount of gas in inventory in history for this time of year, despite two major hurricanes. And yet we continue to have the world's highest and most volatile natural gas prices….”

He continued, "Natural gas prices were shamefully and unnecessarily high even before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita blew into the Gulf. These prices are badly hurting homeowners, farmers and consumers of every kind. They have cost, and continue to cost the manufacturing sector of the US economy tens of thousands of jobs. The only ones who are profiting are NYMEX (New York Mercantile Stock Exchange) traders and, of course, the Exchange itself whose rules promote price volatility."