Bayer MaterialScience LLC (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / USA; www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com) has declared force majeure to North American customers for a number of plastics products, due to the after-effects of hurricane "Ike". The US subsidiary of the German group said that although its own plants on the Gulf of Mexico were relatively unaffected, storm-related damage to the region’s infrastructure had impaired supply of raw materials to its Baytown, Texas site and also hampered deliveries of its own products from the site.

Force majeure applies to North American supplies of PU starting materials MDI, TDI, HDI and polyether polyols, as well as modified isocyanates and related products. Along the polycarbonate chain, the “Makrolon” PC resins (except the “Apec” high-heat grades) as well as the “Bayblend” PC/ABS blends and “Makroblend” (PC/PE) copolymers are affected by the declaration. On 19 September, BMS was unable to say when production would return to normal. However, as repairs are completed over the next several weeks the company said it expected to be able to recoup temporary sales setbacks.