Nitrile Supply Status

Nitrile, a compound commonly used in thin-walled safety gloves, and also as a coating for abrasion protection, may soon be in short supply. This development is attributable to cuts in operating rates in Japan due to March's massive earthquake and the resulting power outages and transport difficulties. Japan has traditionally been one of the largest sources of nitrile in the global market, along with China and Taiwan. We are monitoring the situation and taking proactive steps to ensure that Arbill's product supply is not negatively impacted. This includes:

• Reviewing our inventory levels of nitrile-containing products
• Increasing stock levels of these items

The Arbill operations team is monitoring this and any other supply-related situations that may develop closely, and is committed to ensuring that our customers do not experience any supply interruptions.