Dow Chemical, one of the world’s largest silicone producers and a global leader in specialty chemicals, has formally confirmed that it will implement a sweeping 5% to 15% global price increase for its entire portfolio of silicone products, effective March 27, 2026. This marks the third comprehensive price adjustment by Dow in 2026 alone, following two earlier rounds of increases in January and February, and brings the cumulative price hike for some key silicone products to nearly 25% since the start of the year. The price increase applies to all major silicone categories, including dimethyl silicone oil, methyl vinyl silicone raw rubber, 107 glue, siloxane intermediates, room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubbers, and high-performance specialty silicone formulations, spanning regional markets across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
In a formal statement, Dow attributed the price hike to persistent and unprecedented cost pressures, including skyrocketing raw material costs, elevated energy prices, increased logistics and transportation expenses, and ongoing global supply chain disruptions. A critical additional factor is the company’s planned permanent shutdown of its 145,000-ton annual capacity siloxane production facility in Barry, UK, scheduled for mid-2026. This closure will reduce Europe’s total silicone monomer production capacity by nearly 30%, creating a significant supply gap in the regional market and tightening the global silicone supply balance further. Dow noted that the price adjustment is necessary to maintain product quality, research and development investment, and reliable supply to customers. Competitors including Wacker Chemie, Evonik Industries, and Shin-Etsu Chemical have all signaled similar pricing actions in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a synchronized global silicone price surge that will impact end-users across construction, automotive, electronics, and new energy sectors worldwide.
∷
