Document e116w4Z9xXDRz9oje7qqwB00e

DRAFT II (11/9/76) FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATELY 1976 MONSANTO RAISES PCB PRICES TO BREAK EVEN ON PHASE OUT ST. LOUIS, Nov. 00 -- Monsanto Company said today that effective Jan. 1, 1977, it will increase the price of all grades of its polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dielectric insulating fluids by about 24 per cent^tKa--break-even- -en--'the--phrase out 'Of" Llie product l-4ne. Monsanto markets PCB exclusively to the electrical power supply industry for use as fire resistant dielectric fluids in transformers and capacitors. Monsanto announced last month its intentions to terminate the production, sale and distribution of its PCB products by Oct. 31, 1977. The cdmpany said that it would have withdrawn sooner, but a majority of its customers required that lead time to complete field testing and convert to replacement products. According to Monsanto, this protracted phase out program has caused certain production imbalances that make efficient operation impossible. The company said the resulting higher unit costs, combined with other phase-out-related expenses, were major reasons behind the price increase. * * - -oOo . .- DSW 338351 STLCOPCB4082184