Chemical giant hikes prices by 30% amid rising costs and restructuring

Soaring costs force a bold move: price surges across key product lines. Will customers—and investors—adapt to the new reality?

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2026 May 5 . 11:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a graph depicting the increased BAA issuance across industry groups. The graph is... — The image shows a graph depicting the increased BAA issuance across industry groups. The graph is accompanied by text that provides further information about the data.

Chemical giant hikes prices by 30% amid rising costs and restructuring

A major chemical manufacturer has raised prices across its cleaning and cosmetic product lines by up to 30 percent. The increases, effective since March 18, come as the company faces rising costs and shifts its business focus. Share prices also saw a slight dip on Thursday, closing just below a key market benchmark. The price hikes affect a wide range of products, from surfactants to cosmetic ingredients. The company cited volatile raw material supplies, surging logistics expenses, and higher energy costs as the main drivers. Where contracts allow, the increases have been even steeper.

Alongside these changes, the firm is streamlining operations by selling off non-core assets. Its Aseptrol biocide division has been acquired by US-based Oxidium Technologies. At the same time, the company has lifted its cost-cutting target for 2026 from €2.1 billion to €2.3 billion. The Care Chemicals division anticipates better performance this year, thanks to extra production from new facilities and lower fixed costs. However, the company’s 2026 earnings forecast—€6.2 to €7.0 billion—falls slightly short of what analysts had predicted. Investors will soon see how customers respond to the price rises when the next quarterly results are released.

The latest adjustments reflect both external pressures and internal restructuring. With higher prices in place and cost-cutting measures underway, the company’s next financial report will reveal whether the strategy is working. For now, the market reaction remains cautious, as shown by the recent share price movement.