BASF Announces 12% Increase for Nature-Identical Carotenoids

The company said that this increase is necessary to compensate for negative impacts resulting from a combination of increased energy and raw material prices, higher logistics costs and negative exchange rate effects.

4/4/2011 --- BASF has globally increased prices for all nature-identical carotinoid formulations containing canthaxanthin, citranaxanthin, C30-ester and beta-carotene by approximately 12%, effective immediately or as existing commitments allow.

The products affected are all grades for human and animal nutrition including Lucarotin, Beta-Carotene, Lucantin Red, Lucantin Yellow and Lucantin CX Forte. All existing contractual obligations will be honored. Lucantin Pink (astaxanthin) is not affected.

The company said that this increase is necessary to compensate for negative impacts resulting from a combination of increased energy and raw material prices, higher logistics costs and negative exchange rate effects.

Canthaxanthin, citranaxanthin, C30-ester and beta-carotene are carotenoids found naturally in vegetables, fish and crustaceans. BASF is a leading producer of nature-identical carotenoids.

Carotenoids are used in coloring and fortification of beverages and foods as well as in dietary supplements. In animal nutrition, carotenoids are used as feed additives to intensify the pigmentation of egg yolk and fish and to enhance animal fertility, among other things.