Indium Corp. Adds Surcharge on Silver- and Tin-Containing Products

Electronics assembly and semiconductor packaging materials supplier Indium Corp. of Clinton, N.Y., yesterday announced a surcharge on its silver- and tin-containing solder paste products, effective immediately. Since January 2006 tin prices have nearly doubled, the company said, from approximately $3.36/lb to $6.25/lb, and silver has increased about 65 percent from $133/lb to $203/lb. During the same time period, the metal cost for Pb-free SAC 387 solder alloy moved from approximately $8.27/lb to $13.68/lb, a 60 percent increase. Indium said metal costs have been increasing steadily since January 2006 and are expected to remain high through the rest of 2007. The surcharges are based on the difference between current metal costs and those from January 2006; the company said the surcharges will be eliminated when prices return to 2006 levels.