Northfield, IL, April 15, 2026 – Effective May 15, 2026, or as contracts allow, Stepan will increase the price for
STEPANPOL ® Rigid Polyester Polyols used in the Americas by $0.06 per pound and TERATE® Rigid Polyester Polyols
used in the Americas by $.08 per pound. This increase is necessary due to the continued escalation in raw material
prices.

Please contact your Stepan Company sales representative to learn more about the price increase.

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TL linehaul rate index up 15 straight months

Todd Maiden

· Tuesday, April 14, 2026

March data from Cass Information Systems showed freight shipment declines narrowed while rates continued to move higher.

Cass’ (NASDAQ: CASS) multimodal shipments index increased 3% sequentially in March (up 1% seasonally adjusted), building on a 10.4% increase in February (plus-4.3% seasonally adjusted). The index was down just 4.5% year over year in the recent month, the smallest y/y decline since June. On a two-year comparison, freight volumes tracked by Cass were off less than 10%.

Table: Cass Information Systems (SA – seasonally adjusted)

The dataset has lagged other indicators, which are showing a more upbeat demand environment.

Cass data includes a significant mix of less-than-truckload transactions. Less-than-truckload demand is weighted to the industrial economy, which has been under pressure for the majority of the past three years. However, an LTL inflection may be nearing as the Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing has signaled growth in the first three months of the year.

The Tuesday report said the shipments index is “starting to catch up with other indicators” as “tightness in dry van truckload (TL) conditions is starting to radiate to other markets.” The index is expected to be off 5% y/y in April, assuming normal seasonal patterns hold, moving into positive territory in the back half of the year (plus-1.5% is the current forecast).

Even with the volume headwind, Cass’ expenditures index, which measures total freight spend including fuel, increased 4.9% from February (up 2.4% seasonally adjusted). A 4.2% y/y increase during the month coupled with the 4.5% decline in volumes implies actual freight rates were roughly 9% higher in the month. However, changes in freight mix can alter the implied rate assumption.

The report said a recent survey of midsize and large fleets showed some tightening in driver availability as new non-domicile CDL rules took effect in the month.

“Driver availability is a key component of capacity in the market, and additional scarcity seems likely, supporting higher freight rates,” the report said.

Cass’ TL linehaul index, which tracks rates excluding fuel and accessorial surcharges, increased 1.8% y/y in March, marking 15 consecutive y/y increases. A modest 0.5% step down from February was the first sequential decline in seven months. (The dataset includes for-hire spot and contract rates.)

Higher diesel fuel prices, which pushed some operators to the sidelines, offset incremental capacity availability as carrier networks recovered from severe winter storms, the report said.

“Considerable increases in contract rates are likely for the truckload market. After a four-year bottoming phase of the for-hire cycle, we believe we’ve moved to the early cycle phase where capacity becomes short and rates rise.”

Data used in the indexes comes from freight bills paid by Cass, a provider of payment management solutions. Cass processes $37 billion in freight payables annually on behalf of customers.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cass-data-shows-further-freight-market-tightening-in-march?oly_enc_id=7798A6382167C2R

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MIDLAND, Mich., April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dow (NYSE: DOW) today announced that Jim Fitterling, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, will become Executive Chair of the Board, effective July 1, 2026. The Dow Board of Directors has appointed Karen S. Carter, currently Chief Operating Officer, as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Carter will also join Dow’s Board of Directors at that time. Richard Davis will continue to serve as Dow’s Independent Lead Director.

Today’s announcement reflects the culmination of a multi-year, thoughtful succession planning process and supports continuity as Dow continues to advance its strategy as a world leading materials science company.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Jim for his exceptional leadership and continued contributions to Dow,” said Davis. “Jim has led the company through a period of significant transformation while strengthening Dow’s strategy, culture and long-term positioning. We are equally pleased to congratulate Karen on her appointment as CEO. She is a disciplined, highly respected leader with a deep understanding of Dow’s businesses and customers. This appointment reflects our confidence in her ability to lead Dow forward into its next chapter of growth and value creation for customers, employees and shareholders.”

A Legacy of Transformation and Value Creation

During his tenure as CEO, Jim Fitterling has played a pivotal role in reshaping Dow into a more focused, resilient and innovation-driven enterprise, with an emphasis on higher-growth, consumer demand-led markets. Since becoming CEO in 2018 and Board Chair in 2020, he has guided Dow through its spin-out from DowDuPont, navigated the enterprise through macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, and transformed Dow by advancing its sustainability ambitions and reinforcing a culture centered on safety, performance and inclusion.

“Serving as CEO of Dow has been the privilege of a lifetime,” said Fitterling. “Together with our employees and leadership team, we have transformed Dow into a stronger, more focused company with the right strategy, capabilities and culture for the future. I look forward to continuing to support Dow as Executive Chair and working closely with Karen to help ensure continuity and strong execution.”

In his new role, Fitterling will continue to chair the Board and focus on long-term strategy, governance, and key external relationships, while supporting continuity in leadership and execution.

A Proven Leader to Lead Dow Forward

Karen S. Carter brings more than three decades of experience at Dow, with deep operational expertise and a strong track record of delivering results across the enterprise. As Chief Operating Officer, she has overseen business and operational performance company-wide, with responsibility for Dow’s operating segments and key functional organizations, while strengthening customer engagement and accelerating innovation.

Previously, Carter served as President of Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics, the company’s largest operating segment, where she led value growth through asset upgrades, capacity expansions and improved reliability, while advancing circular economy solutions in close partnership with customers and brand owners. She has also held senior leadership roles across business, commercial, and corporate functions, giving her a uniquely holistic perspective on Dow’s operations.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of CEO and lead Dow into our next chapter,” said Carter. “Dow has extraordinary people, world-class assets and leading positions in the markets we serve. Our focus remains unwavering: delivering reliable and innovative solutions for our customers, and long-term value for our employees and our shareholders, while accelerating our transformation to set a new competitive standard for best-in-class performance. I look forward to continuing my partnership with Jim in his new role as Executive Chair, and to working with the Board and all of Team Dow to advance our strategy and deliver on our priorities.”

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dow-chair-and-ceo-jim-fitterling-to-become-executive-chair-karen-s-carter-appointed-chief-executive-officer-302741591.html

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Apr 13, 2026, 6:40 AM ETSomnigroup International Inc. (SGI) Stock, LEG StockBy: Preeti Singh, SA News Editor

Somnigroup International (SGI) has agreed to acquire Leggett & Platt (LEG) in an all-stock transaction worth ~$2.5B, based on Somnigroup’s April 10 closing price.

Under the terms of the agreement, Leggett & Platt shareholders will receive 0.1455 shares of Somnigroup common stock in exchange for each share of Leggett & Platt common stock they own.

As a result, Leggett & Platt’s shareholders will own ~9% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis. The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

The transaction is currently anticipated to close by year-end 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by Leggett & Platt’s shareholders and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Upon closing, Leggett & Platt is expected to operate as a separate business unit within Somnigroup, similar to Tempur Sealy, Mattress Firm, and Dreams, and to maintain its offices in Carthage, Missouri.

Leggett & Platt’s chairman and CEO, Karl Glassman, will continue to lead Leggett & Platt following the closing date and will assist with a seamless transition to a new CEO of the Leggett & Platt business unit within twelve months of the closing date.

Somnigroup and Leggett & Platt have collaborated for nearly 50 years to drive innovation in the bedding market. After giving effect to the transaction, including elimination of intercompany sales, the combined company generated 2025 net sales of around $11.2B, ~$1.7B of adjusted EBITDA, and $1.1B of operating cash flow.

The combination is expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS before synergies in the first year post close and presents cost synergy opportunities with an expected net positive impact on adjusted EBITDA of $50M on a fully implemented annual run-rate basis.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/4574337-somnigroup-to-buy-leggett-platt-in-25b-all-stock-deal?mailingid=45173145&messageid=2900&position=rta_news_bankr_hysacopy_t2_seethehighest_main_2_textlink&serial=45173145.553&source=email_2900

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2/4/26
Stahl
(68.5% stake fromhttps://www.pnc.com/en/corporate-and-institutional/topics/specialty-segments/chemicals-and-plastics.html?WT.mc_id=CIB_Offline_0065
Wendel; 16.1% from
BASF SE; 14.6% from
Clariant AG)
Henkel AG & Co.
KGaA
EUR 2.1B –

• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA has agreed to acquire Stahl, a Netherlands-based producer of
  high-performance specialty coatings for flexible materials, serving companies across
  the automotive, fashion & lifestyle and packaging markets. Stahl’s portfolio consists
  of leather finishing coatings, performance coatings as well as high-performance
  paper packaging & graphics coatings.
• “With the acquisition of Stahl, we will further strengthen our Adhesive Technologies
  business unit in line with our strategic agenda for purposeful growth. It will enable us
  to expand into the attractive adjacent category of specialty coatings with product
  offerings in core as well as in new end-markets, driving further growth in our
  Adhesive Technologies business unit.” said Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel.
• Stahl employs approximately 1,700 people and generates annual revenue of EUR 725
  million (2.9x EV / Revenue).

1/27/26
Universal Chemicals
and Coatings
PRO-SET
Formulated
Resin Systems
(Iron Path
Capital)

• –
• PRO-SET Formulated Resin Systems (“PFRS”) has acquired Universal Chemicals and
  Coatings, an Illinois-based manufacturer of custom industrial coatings, laminating
  adhesives and container linings.
• This marks the third acquisition for PFRS, following its acquisition of Gougeon
  Brothers, Inc. in May 2025 and Wessex Resins and Adhesives in December 2025.
  Furthers PFRS’ strategy to build a global formulated resin systems business focused
  on highly specified formulated products for fabricating, bonding, sealing, coating and
  repair of advanced non-metallic and metallic composite structures for marine,
  aerospace, defense, electronics and industrial applications.

1/22/26
Chemical business of
Kyocera Corporation
Sumitomo
Bakelite
Company Limited
$189M –

• Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited has agreed to acquire the Chemical business of
  Kyocera Corporation. Kyocera’s chemical business, based in Japan, manufactures
  epoxy-resin molding compounds for encapsulation of semiconductor devices,
  bonding pastes for semiconductor devices and resins for industrial use.
• Enhances Sumitomo’s presence in the information & communications technology
  industry.

1/14/26
Key Polymer
(DalFort Capital
Partners)
Seatex
(The Riverside
Company)

• –
• Seatex has acquired Key Polymer, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of highperformance
  adhesives, sealants and coatings for a diverse range of industries.
• “Key Polymer is an excellent complement to the Seatex platform,” said Riverside
  Partner Craig Kahler. “This represents our first follow -on acquisition since we
  acquired Seatex in October 2024 and materially advances our plans to expand the end
  market and geographic reach of the platform.”

3/19/26 Diversified Plastics
The Rubber
Group
(River Associates)

• –
• The Rubber Group has acquired Diversified Plastics (“DPI”), a Montana-based
  precision plastic manufacturer offering urethane casting, thermoforming, machining
  and injection molding.
• “The combination is about growth. We are bringing together complementary
  capabilities to better serve customers,” said Rob Pruyn, President, The Rubber
  Group. “By combining rubber, plastics, and urethane capabilities, we can offer a
  broader range of engineered solutions to both customer bases, and the cross-selling
  opportunity is significant.”
• DPI will now be known as Diversified Plastics Industrial Solutions.

https://www.pnc.com/en/corporate-and-institutional/topics/specialty-segments/chemicals-and-plastics.html?WT.mc_id=CIB_Offline_0065

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April 9, 2026 1 min read

On April 8, 2026, The US Department of Commerce announced that it has issued its final affirmative anti-dumping determination on methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) from China, imposing duties of 85.11% on major producers and 159.04% on others, a sharp reduction from preliminary rates. The final ruling sets a dumping rate of 85.11% for producer and exporter Covestro Polymers (China) Co., Ltd., producer Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and its exporter Shandong Mingko Co., Ltd. All other Chinese producers and exporters received a rate of 159.04%. The products involved fall under US Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers 2929.10.8010 and 3909.31.0000.

These final rates represent a significant reduction from the preliminary dumping duties of 376.12% to 511.75% announced in September 2025.

The US initiated the anti-dumping investigation on MDI from China on March 4, 2025, and issued its affirmative preliminary determination on September 16, 2025.

https://www.pudaily.com/Home/NewsDetails/63897

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Jeffrey A. Tucker

4/8/2026|Updated: 4/8/2026

It was six years ago and most nations of the world had gone into lockdown to beat back a respiratory virus. Nothing like this had ever been tried before, and this is for a reason. Every pandemic protocol recommended against such tactics. This of course included work-from-home orders and a huge disruption in normal work flows, including the forced closure of small businesses.

In the early weeks of these wild times, something unusual happened. You would go to the store and could not find toilet paper. You would go to another and it wasn’t there either. Hardly anyone actually stocks up on something that had always been available, so this was something of a shock. It came just as so much else seemed to be breaking, so it seemed in a sense like the world was falling apart.

Suddenly you were seeing toilet paper on sale for high figures on Facebook Marketplace. People were texting my phone with offers. Messages were coming in from all quarters wondering where they could get it. People were driving long distances just on a rumour that some was in stock somewhere.

Who knew just how thin the veneer of civilization truly was? People were losing their minds about what was surely a brief interruption in the availability of a product invented little more than 100 years ago, before which time people would use water or the “Farmer’s Almanac” hanging on the wall of the outhouse. Blech, but come on people!

Folks began to wonder how this had happened. The first theories involved supply chain breakages. Maybe truckers stopped showing up. Maybe we are more dependent on imports than we knew.

Or maybe bad people were stockpiling toilet paper. There were social media posts with pictures of people who had filled their entire garage with toilet paper, thus triggering genuine outrage. Stores that had toilet paper started rationing it. Or raising prices to effectively ration, thus prompting claims of gouging.

This went on for maybe two weeks of extreme deprivation and near panic. Had the forces of supply and demand broken? Was civilization utterly collapsing with this just as a first sign?

The actual explanation is both much simpler and more interesting. As it turns out, the workplace is where most people find the need for toilet paper. Workplace rolls are typically much different. They are industrial-sized rolls using machines wholly unlike anything one would use at home. They also use cheaper-quality paper.

But with millions suddenly working from home and avoiding the office altogether, the demand for workplace commercial varieties of toilet paper collapsed. Warehouses were stuffed with it but demand was nowhere in sight. Conversely, the demand for vast quantities of home use soared even as stay-at-home people decided to stock up. Experience suggests that households staying home will use about 40 percent more toilet paper of the type specifically manufactured for that purpose.

Most stores keep just enough to match supply and demand. Now we had a market shock. Even manufacturers had not prepared and suddenly faced a demand that they could not meet under normal production patterns. They certainly had not anticipated this.

The result was exactly as we saw. The markets had not broken. They were working entirely as they should. Manufacturers retooled and responded. Retailers rushed to stock up. In a few weeks, the panic died down and a new equilibrium was established.

What does this event teach us about economics? Everything. Higher demand and fixed supply drive shortages and higher prices. Higher prices with a premium over costs of production calls forth increased supply. This happens not instantly but in time, as fast as possible so long as the market is working.

Which is precisely why we need markets always to work. This was an unusual and dramatic change but actually the market as a driving force of production decisions operated with great elan and beauty.

As Adam Smith would say, it was almost like an invisible hand was in control. No one needed to know the names of the people running the paper mills and give them a call. We are all only consumers of the product. The prices alone do the work to nudge the producers and retailers in the right direction.

Prices are the signs and symbols of the dynamics of human life itself, instructing and revealing the secrets of the material world to entrepreneurs and managers.

Many societies in history have attempted to replace prices and markets with plans and commands. It works until there is a change in conditions. Here’s the rub: there is always change. Every day, every minute, there is change. The point of the institution of markets is to investigate and instantiate that change in signs and symbols to poke and nudge producers about the right path forward.

What seemed to many to be a major example of markets having broken was actually the opposite. It revealed how markets work brilliantly. Even the most extreme exogenous shock that no one anticipated only caused a fortnight-long disruption in a good that society had decided was essential to human well-being.

I highly regret what our central managers of the microbial kingdom did to us in those days. They are the villains in this story. The free market, on the other hand, is the hero. It adapted and served the human family with essential goods, not immediately but as quickly as humanly possible.

This is the real story of the great toilet-paper shortage of 2020. So many people say it as a failure of capitalistic forces when, in the instance of this product, really it was one of its greatest victories.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/the-great-toilet-paper-shortage-6009290?ea_src=frontpage&ea_med=section-1

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Sinomax is consolidating manufacturing into its Tennessee facility. Photo courtesy of Sinomax.

Sinomax consolidates 2 domestic production facilities into 1 in Tennessee

Sheila Long O’Mara //Executive Editor, Furniture Today//April 2, 2026

PHOENIX – Foam bedding producer Sinomax is consolidating its domestic manufacturing operations into its Tennessee facility, a move that will eliminate 89 manufacturing jobs at its location here, according to the company and a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing.

The company said it is shifting U.S. production to its 1-million-square-foot LaVergne, Tenn., plant as part of a broader effort to improve efficiency and streamline operations.

The transition impacts about 89 employees working in manufacturing roles in Phoenix. The company said it will work with affected employees over the coming month to assist with their transition to new employment opportunities.

Sinomax cited operational challenges in Arizona as a key factor in the decision, particularly difficulties securing permits tied to foam pouring, a key component of its manufacturing process.

“Because of these issues, we cannot consider this location to be a long-term strategic investment in manufacturing,” the company said in a statement.

While manufacturing will cease in Phoenix, the company said the facility, opened in 2021, will continue to serve as a distribution hub for the foreseeable future.

“Although we regret this action had to be taken, we believe it is in the best interest of the health and long-term growth of the organization,” the statement said.

Sinomax’s LaVergne, Tenn., facility opened in 2017 and is the company’s first U.S. factory.

https://www.furnituretoday.com/bedding-manufacturers/sinomax-consolidates-2-domestic-production-facilities-into-1-in-tennessee

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Sheila Long O’Mara //Executive Editor, Furniture Today//April 3, 2026

At A Glance

• Carpenter Co reports double-digit foam price increases and allocations
• FXI and Future Foam announce 12% to 18% price increases with supply cuts
• Manufacturers weigh surcharges amid foam cost increases

HIGH POINT – A fast-moving disruption in the global chemical supply chain is triggering sharp increases in foam costs and tightening allocations across the bedding and upholstery categories, setting the stage for higher retail prices and added pressure on an already strained home furnishings market.

Suppliers are implementing double-digit price increases – in some cases exceeding 20% – while limiting order volumes, creating a dual challenge of rising costs and constrained supply that executives say is unlike recent disruptions.

“It’s not just a North America issue; it’s a global problem,” said Michael Faus, senior vice president of Carpenter Co., the industry’s largest foam producer, noting that unlike prior disruptions such as the 2021 Texas freeze, suppliers today cannot simply source materials from other regions. “Back then, you could go outside the U.S. and bring in a spot buy. In this case, Asia, Europe and Mexico are all dealing with the same issues.”

At the center of the disruption is a shortage of propylene oxide, a critical feedstock used to produce polyols, which in turn are essential to polyurethane foam. Faus said a recent fire at a major Texas chemical plant significantly curtailed supply, creating a bottleneck that is rippling across the entire value chain.

Beyond the plant outages, executives point to geopolitical instability – including the ongoing war with Iran and tensions in the Middle East – as a key driver of rising input costs, which also impact textiles, yarn, steel and other components.  Because foam chemicals are petroleum derivatives, increases in crude oil and fuel prices are directly impacting the cost of producing key chemicals like propylene oxide, polyols and isocyanates.

The impact is being felt across the entire cost structure, from raw materials to freight to plastic packaging to polyester thread. Rising fuel prices are increasing transportation costs, while higher energy prices are adding pressure at every stage of chemical production, further tightening an already constrained global supply chain.

“You can have all the TDI you need, but about 60% of the chemistry behind polyurethane depends on propylene oxide,” Faus said. “When that gets disrupted, it impacts everything.”

That constraint – combined with outages at major global chemical producers and rising input costs for energy, freight and raw materials such as benzene and natural gas – is driving multiple rounds of price increases. Carpenter implemented increases in early April and is preparing another round for May, which Faus expects to be in the double digits.

“The reality is, pricing is going up, and there’s another increase coming,” he said.

At the same time, supply remains constrained. Carpenter has implemented allocations and is working hard to manage them across its customer base. “We’re trying to keep allocations steady and consistent,” Faus said.

Carpenter isn’t alone in the price hikes or the allocations, limits on historical purchasing levels.

Suppliers have responded with multiple rounds of increases and allocation policies. FXI notified customers via letters received by Furniture Today of an 18% price increase effective mid-April alongside supply reductions, while Future Foam announced – also via emailed letters received by Furniture Today – a 12% increase with another, larger adjustment expected in early May. Vertically integrated 3Z Brands sent a similar notice to foam customers that conventional polyurethane foam would increase 22% and specialty foam products would jump 8% as of April 15.

Effects are being felt

Manufacturing executives across the industry, including a handful who would only speak on background, say the ripple effects are being felt immediately, with foam producers moving quickly to adjust pricing and control supply.

Increases, manufacturers say, are moving through the system at an unprecedented pace. Those constraints are being reinforced by force majeure declarations tied to shortages of key inputs, as chemical suppliers struggle to meet demand following the disruption in propylene oxide production.

The result is a supply chain shock that is cascading downstream – and one that manufacturers say cannot be absorbed.

For mattress and upholstery manufacturers, foam represents one of the largest component costs, leaving little room to offset increases. Several executives said retail prices on mattresses could rise by $100 or more in the near term, with overall product costs climbing meaningfully across categories.

Nick Bates, president and CEO of Spring Air International, said his company is already preparing to implement surcharges on orders to manage the volatility. “We’re looking at 12% to 18% increases now, and potentially 30% in May,” he said. “We’ll track it with a surcharge because of how fluid this is. No manufacturer is going to eat that; it’s going to show up at retail.”

At the same time, allocations are limiting manufacturers’ ability to grow production or support new business, creating additional friction at a time when demand remains soft.

While demand has softened compared with the pandemic-era surge – a factor Faus described as a “bit of a silver lining” – he emphasized that the current environment remains highly challenging, particularly as rising costs flow downstream to manufacturers and retailers already contending with weak consumer demand.

“This impacts everybody,” he said. “Most retail is struggling, and even some of the luxury segment is being affected. Now you layer on higher costs, and it puts even more pressure on the finished goods.”

Bob Naboicheck, CEO of Gold Bond, said the increases are coming at a particularly difficult moment for both manufacturers and retailers already contending with higher energy and freight costs.

“It’s a horrible time because the cost of energy is so high and chemicals are so high,” he said. “We’ll have to raise prices – probably around 8% on average – because we just can’t absorb it.”

While many executives view the increases as a necessary response to real cost pressures, others expressed skepticism about how quickly and how broadly pricing is moving higher.

“It feels opportunistic,” Bates said. “Every time something like this happens, prices go up quickly, but I’ve never seen a letter saying they’re coming back down.” He said suppliers are saying once the shortages clear pricing will stabilize.

“I’ll believe it when I see it, and I hope they remain true to their word,” he said.

Past comparisons, future expectations

Not all suppliers are reacting in the same way. Vertically integrated manufacturers with internal foam production capabilities say they are working to manage costs more deliberately.

“I believe the cost pressures are real,” said Kyle Robertson, chief operating officer of Mlily USA. “But our goal is to approach any changes thoughtfully. Because we control our foam pouring, we can take a more intentional approach rather than reacting too quickly.”

The current situation has drawn comparisons to past supply shocks, including Hurricane Katrina and the 2021 winter freeze in Texas. But executives say this disruption is more complex because it is global in scope and tied to multiple factors, including geopolitical instability, chemical plant outages and rising energy costs.

“This is about as close as it gets to Katrina, but it’s different,” Faus said. “This is more of a macro challenge.”

Looking ahead, industry leaders expect supply conditions to remain volatile in the near term. If domestic propylene oxide production resumes by early summer, Faus said conditions could begin to ease within 60 to 90 days. However, pricing pressure is expected to linger longer as elevated input costs work their way through the system.

“From a supply standpoint, we’re probably looking at 60 to 90 days of choppy waters,” Faus said. “But from a cost perspective, this will last longer than that.”

https://www.furnituretoday.com/bedding-manufacturers/foam-prices-are-on-the-rise-what-does-that-mean-for-mattresses-upholstery/?cm_mmc=Act-On%20Software–email–Foam%20prices%20are%20on%20the%20rise.%20What%20does%20that%20mean%20for%20mattresses%20upholstery-_-Foam%20prices%20are%20on%20the%20rise.%20What%20does%20that%20mean%20for%20mattresses%20upholstery&ActOnUniqueID=HFD638689

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Mar 31, 2026, 3:45 PM ETDow Inc. (DOW) Stock, ARMCO StockBy: Rob Williams, SA News Editor

A major petrochemical facility in Saudi Arabia operated by a partnership between Saudi Aramco (ARMCO) and Dow (DOW) temporarily stopped production, underscoring how escalating tensions in the Middle East are straining industrial activity and supply chains.

Sadara Chemical Co. confirmed that operations at the complex have been paused, though it didn’t provide a timeline for restarting production, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday. The company said any resumption will depend on both domestic conditions and broader international developments.

The shutdown highlights the growing impact of the Iran conflict on energy infrastructure across the region. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy trade that typically carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, remains largely obstructed, complicating exports.

Saudi Arabia has already reduced crude output, and alternative logistics are being stretched. A pipeline network connecting eastern production hubs to ports on the Red Sea is reportedly operating at maximum capacity, providing a partial workaround for shipments.

The Sadara complex, a roughly $20 billion investment, is designed to produce about 3 million metric tons of plastics and specialty chemicals annually. Saudi Aramco has previously positioned the facility as a cornerstone of its strategy to diversify revenue by converting crude oil into higher-value products.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/4570899-saudi-aramco-dow-jv-suspends-chemical-output-amid-regional-disruptions?mailingid=44996798&messageid=2900&position=rta_news_bankr_hysacopy_t2_seethehighest_main_2_textlink&serial=44996798.1161&source=email_2900

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