Germany-based chemical company Lanxess has increased its prices for chlorotoluenes, cresols and the antioxidants VulkanoxR BHT and VulkanoxR BKF world-wide, with immediate effect. Depending on the product group, the price per metric ton will rise by between 5% and 15% as a function of the proportion of toluene used. The company stated that this increase in prices  was due to the rising cost of raw material toluene and higher energy costs.

Chlorotoluenes (o- and p-chlorotoluene) are primarily used to produce agrochemicals, but are also used in pigment and optical brightener manufacture. Cresols (o-cresol, m-cresol and m/p-cresol) are widely used in the manufacture of vitamin E, resins, flame retardants and agrochemicals. The antioxidant VulkanoxR BHT acts as a stabiliser in animal feed, drugs and foodstuffs, plastics, and rubber. VulkanoxR BKF is an antioxidant used primarily in the rubber and latex industry.