US manufacturer of polyester products, Wellman, Inc. has announced that, with effect from October 1 shipments, it will increase the price of its polyester staple fibre products by 5 cents/pound.

Joe Tucker, vice president, Fibers and Recycled Products Group, attributed the increase to the continued rise in petrochemical raw material costs, commenting, "There is continuing upward pressure on the cost of our raw materials, which have already surpassed levels recorded last year following the Gulf Coast hurricanes. We cannot absorb or offset these increases and need to work to maintain margins that allow us to continue to meet future customer needs."

Wellman’s products include Fortrel brand polyester fibres and PermaClear and EcoClear brand PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging resins.