Record-high global demand has led the second largest US soda ash producer to raise prices by an average of 38%, industry sources announced in May, prompting speculation that more hikes would follow. The Green River, Wyoming-based General Chemical Industrial said it will increase off-list prices for bulk and package dense soda ash by US$50/short ton and list prices for bulk and package material by US$75/short ton, effective immediately. "I've never seen anything of nat magnitude," said Ted Fastert, national sales manager at competing producer Solvay. "You might have some folks say they can't make end-use products at prices this high. But the export markets are like a blank cheque." Fastert said his firm was still mulling price increases of its own.
