National Starch Food Innovation has announced a price increase in Europe on its full range of products. The price of food, pharmaceutical, encapsulation, beverage and texturising starches will increase by 8-10%, effective from 15 November 2006.

Dry growing conditions in Europe and subsequent limited availability have dramatically impacted the cost of cereal grains, it says, with prices having risen 15-20% to date and continuing to rise. Other factors affecting starch production costs include escalating prices for energy, synthetic raw materials and freight.