Nihon Seiko to Hike Antimony Trioxide by 10 yen/kg

Nihon Seiko announced on Tuesday the firm increases the selling price of antimony trioxide, which is used as fire retardant of plastic, by 50 yen per kilogram effective on April 10 shipment. The firm tries to improve the profitability by covering higher cost for imported ingot under lower yen rate along with freight and other materials. The firm increased the selling price of antimony trioxide by 100 yen per kg in May 2006 to cover higher international antimony ingot price. The ingot price stays around US$ 5,600 per tonne since July 2006. However, foreign exchange rate of yen decreased to averaged 121.54 yen at telegraphic transfer selling rate in February from 112.69 yen in May 2006. Under the lower yen rate, the firm has to pay more yen for ingot. Other cost also increases for freight with high crude oil price and subsidiary materials. The firm tries to pass the higher cost price on the selling price through the talk with the users. The firm said high purity ingot premium also pushes the production cost.