AALBORG - Significant raw material price increases and higher freight costs have led to an increase in prices at Fibertex Nonwovens with immediate effect, the company has announced.

Fibertex says costs of its main raw materials such as polyester, viscose and polypropylene fibres had risen which, when combined with higher charges for freight and currency fluctuations, made its previous pricing unsustainable.

"We continue to see significant and sudden increases in the prices of raw materials and freight, accompanied by materials and logistics/freight shortages experienced in the supply chain," Fibertex said in a statement. "It is the market view that these higher price levels are expected to remain elevated for the foreseeable future, as imbalances arising from global volatility persist.

"While we remain committed to a continued high standard of service and reliable supply, we are no longer able to absorb these higher cost levels without disruption and impact to supply levels and announce price increases to compensate for these movements."

Fibertex said it was continuing to work on measures to improve its productivity, and to keep and secure competitive prices, and that it was continuing to take measures to avoid further increases where possible.

"Volatile raw material markets are having an increasingly strong impact on all textiles and nonwovens-related industries. We hope for our customers’ understanding of this situation which is due to factors completely beyond our control," the company added. "We will continue to do the utmost to fulfill the needs of our customers for reliable deliveries and good service."