FMC Increasing Soda Ash Prices

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. (AP) — FMC Corp. is raising soda ash prices for some customers by $10 per short ton effective Oct. 1, or as contract terms permit.

The Philadelphia-based company announced Monday that the increase will apply to off-list prices, or discount prices negotiated by the company's larger customers.

The company says the price increase is necessary to recover cost increases and support continued investment in the business. List prices will remain the same at $260 per short ton for bulk dense soda ash.

FMC's Wyoming facility is the world's largest soda ash plant. FMC is one of four companies that mine trona in southwest Wyoming and process it into soda ash, a key ingredient in glass.

Soda ash production fell in the first half of this year. FMC recently announced plans for 70 layoffs at its Wyoming plant.

FMC officials say they expect production to increase in the second half of 2009.