Hoechst AG (D-65926 Frankfurt) has announced price increases of 10-15% in Europe, effective 1 April, for its fluoropolymer products sold under the name "Hostaflon" (PTFE, PFA, FEP and ET). Increases are also in store for PE-UHMW ("Hostalen GUR"/"GHR") as of 1 March. As reasons for the hike, The Frankfurt group cites sharp price declines and higher costs over the past several years, which despite rationalisation, personnel cuts and restructuration efforts could not be compensated. For fluoropolymers, Hoechst said it sees the need to bring European prices into line with those demanded in North America and Asia. The rise for the high performance PE-UHMW is designed, in Hoechst's words, is to "stabilise profits," so that the polymer producer can continue to offer processors a "high quality engineering plastics portfolio." Prices for these products were last raised in October 1994.