More News from Vystar Corporation

ATLANTA - July 30, 2009 - Vystar Corporation and Alatech Healthcare, LLC announced 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market and sell the first exam gloves manufactured with Vytex® Natural Rubber Latex (NRL). Alatech plans to introduce exam gloves made with Vytex NRL in the near future.

This marks the second Vytex NRL product to receive 510(k) clearance from the FDA in a new line of all natural infection control offerings. Alatech's Envy™ Natural Rubber Latex condom made with Vytex NRL received FDA clearance in May and is expected to be available later this year.

Vystar's patented Vytex NRL is an environmentally friendly material that contains virtually undetectable levels of the antigenic proteins that can cause an allergic response, while retaining and improving upon the desirable qualities of latex. Alatech's exam gloves made with Vytex will carry the protein label claim of less than 50 µg/dm2 or less of total extractable protein per glove.

Vystar's CEO, William Doyle, said, "Vystar is excited to add exam gloves as the second Vytex NRL product with FDA 510(k) clearance. This is a significant and promising development for the future growth of our company since the glove category is the largest market for natural rubber latex. Because Vytex NRL is a natural, renewable product, Vystar is well positioned as a producer of eco-conscious raw materials for more than 40,000 products that contain natural rubber latex or petroleum-based synthetics.

Alatech President & CEO Lawrence Povlacs said, "Alatech views its relationship with Vystar as a strategic partnership for introducing a category of revolutionary natural products in the healthcare arena that represents the first line of defense in infection control for caregivers, patients and consumers globally."

According to the American Latex Allergy Association, approximately 17 percent of healthcare workers and up to three percent of the general population in the U.S. experience allergies or sensitivities to traditional latex.

More than 55 manufacturing trials are underway worldwide for gloves and other products made with Vytex NRL including medical and non-medical gloves, foam mattresses and pillows, bandages, adhesives and more. The Vystar Professional Support Team™ provides technical and marketing consultants who provide a wide range of expertise to manufacturing partners on compounding, conducting trials, interpreting results and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for successful manufacturing conversion and startup.

Rubber slumps 4.1% on speculation price rally may weaken demand

Thursday, July 30, 2009
According to an article in bloomberg.com by Jae Hur and Aya Takada, "Rubber slumped by as much as 4.1 percent amid speculation demand for the commodity used to make tires may slow after prices jumped to the highest in more than eight months.
Futures in Tokyo declined after gaining 22 percent in the previous 10 days. The 14-day relative strength index for rubber futures, a gauge of momentum, climbed above 70 this week, a level signaling prices may decline. “Rubber futures went up too much," Shuji Sugata, research manager at Mitsubishi Corp. Futures & Securities Ltd., said today in a phone interview.

"The price appears to have achieved its target level of around 190 yen, where some investors want to cash in.” Rubber for January delivery settled at 181.9 yen a kilogram ($1,932 a metric ton) on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, down 3.8 percent from its settlement yesterday.

The new benchmark contract touched 190.1 yen on its debut yesterday, the highest intraday price since Nov. 10. A drop in crude oil prices also put pressure on rubber futures, making the synthetic rival more attractive than natural rubber, Sugata said.

Crude oil for September delivery fell 1.7 percent to $66.06 a barrel at 4:31 a.m. in Tokyo. Oil dropped for the second day after U.S. equities fell and a report showed increased crude supplies in the world’s biggest energy consuming nation.
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, the three-largest rubber producers, may deepen a planned supply reduction this year as the recession curbs consumption, Abdul Rasip Latiff, chief executive officer of the International Rubber Consortium Ltd., said July 26. The three producing countries will cut shipments by as much as 48,000 tons a month in the second half, Latiff said July 15. The trio reduced exports by 540,000 tons in the first five months of the year, more than the 414,000 ton reduction planned for the first half, he said.

Message From Vystar Corp

This year continues to be very busy and productive and we're excited to share new developments on Vytex® Natural Rubber Latex (NRL). Most notably, Vystar and U.S. manufacturer Alatech Healthcare LLC received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market and sell Alatech's Envy™ condom manufactured with Vytex NRL. Envy is the first condom on the U.S. market with specific labeling regarding antigenic protein claims and provides a new option and benefits for consumers. We anticipate the product will be available later this year.

In other news, we are presenting our third paper at the International Latex Conference in Cleveland, Ohio and had great response to our presentations at conferences earlier this year. We are following up on 55 manufacturing trials worldwide and have ramped up production in Asia and distribution globally. I had a productive trip to Malaysia and India in March and was pleased with the processing capacity in Malaysia and impressed with the research progress in India.

We are enthusiastic about our partnership with the American Latex Allergy Association, which advances our awareness campaign.

We look forward to keeping you informed and invite your feedback. Please email us at info@vytex.com or call (770) 965-0383.

Sincerely,
Bill Doyle, President & CEO, Vystar Corp.

Huntsman announces further increases in titanium dioxide prices in North America and Europe

Billingham, U.K. Friday, July 17, 2009 – The Pigments Division of Huntsman Corp. has announced that effective August 1, 2009, or as applicable contracts allow, it will increase the price of all grades of titanium dioxide sold in North America by $0.03 per pound (USD) and by $0.03 per pound (CAD).

This price increase is in addition to all price increases previously announced in North America, including the announcement on May 21, 2009, also effective August 1, 2009. In addition, the company announced that effective August 1, 2009, or as applicable contracts allow, it will increase the price of all grades of titanium dioxide sold in Europe by EUR 100 per metric ton or by $150 per metric ton in dollar based markets. This price increase is in addition to all price increases previously announced in Europe, including the announcement made on May 21, 2009, effective July 1, 2009.

PowerPoint Training Slides Used By John Woon Latex Consultants

Manufacturer: Some students of yours have informed us that they always look forward to your lecture and training because there has never been a dull moment. They are particularly impressed with your training materials especially your PowerPoint slides. Can you share these with us some?

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): Yes of course but in order to be fair to those who have paid for my training, I could only show you some samples.
Please CLICK HERE to see some of them

Rubber prices likely to trade slightly higher this week

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- According to an article Friday in bernama.com, "Malaysian rubber prices are expected to trade slightly better next week, supported by mild buying interest, dealers said. "The market is still receiving active enquiries from overseas buyers such as Korea, South Africa and Turkey. They are interested, but purchases are still pending on concerns over the global economic recovery," a dealer said. However, the dealer said that the market could be on the downtrend due to a technical correction in respect of an adjustment in prices, to that of regional markets. "Most buyers are looking at Indonesia, which has managed to keep prices much lower than for the rubber produced by Malaysia and Thailand. Therefore, a technical correction is expected, to be in line," the dealer added."

Medical Device Companies (Medical Gloves, Catheters, Face masks) Immune to Economic Depression

By David Eldridge

Medical device companies are reporting positive domestic and international sales growth this year despite the sharp economic downturn, according to research group Frost & Sullivan.

It said it has found continued optimism about prospects for the industry in 2009 in the analysis it has carried out, called European Medical Device Company Profiles.

“Manufacturers were capable of quickly adapting to market trends and were able to achieve greater profit margins,” said Frost & Sullivan. “Emerging markets in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America constituted areas of potential growth for these European producers.”

The global market is divided between the US (a 40% share), the European Union (30%) and the rest of the world (30%).

Frost & Sullivan said European manufacturers have a strong position in Europe, where approximately 78% of the products sold are manufactured within the EU.

In a separate report, Frost & Sullivan is predicting the healthcare industry will start to exploit the digital technology that is fast being adopted in other sectors.

The total mobile/wireless healthcare technologies market in Europe during 2008 was $1.48bn. But the report suggests this figure will reach $6.79bn in 2015.

“Owing to the financial crunch, the healthcare industry in Europe is finding ways to curtail costs and increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery through wireless technology,” according to the group.

In the report, titled Mobile/Wireless Healthcare Technologies in Europe, Frost & Sullivan points out the need for a comprehensive wireless business and technology strategy by healthcare providers.

But it recognizes the challenges involved with integration of central stations and electronic medical records, and the expansion of wireless patient monitoring in sync with biomedical, administrative and laboratory functions.