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Evonik raises pigment-grade carbon black prices by up to 18%
FOCUS
ON
PIGMENTS
announced a $150 per tonne price rise for Asia and a A$150 per tonne price rise for the Australian market. On 30 June, Cristal announced price rises of $200 per tonne for the Middle East and Africa; $0.06 per pound for North America; and €80 per tonne for Europe. Sachtleben announced price increases of €120 per tonne for its European customers and $180 per tonne for its customers in other parts of the world, scheduled to take effect as from 15 July. Separately, some suppliers have posted specific price increases applicable to pigment grades sold to North American papermakers. On 4 June, DuPont posted a surcharge of $0.04 per pound applicable to its RPS Vantage grades. On 13 June, this increase was matched by Tronox in respect of its paper industry grades. Meanwhile on 12 June, Cristal had declared an increase of $0.04 per pound in respect of its RCS-P grade and increases of $0.09 per pound in respect of all its anatase grades sold to North American papermakers. Also, Cristal announced that it would be raising the prices of all its speciality and ultrafine grades of TiO2 by 12%, effective 1 August 2008. This time round, there really should be some upward movement in TiO2 pigment prices, though it is also true that at the end of July there were signs of both an abatement to the continuing slide in US dollar exchange-rates and an easing of crude oil and energy prices.
Ross (President, Rockwood Color Pigments & Services) said: “The variable costs for pigment raw materials have risen in all areas at an unprecedented rate. Global prices for metal feedstocks, acids, alkalis, packaging material, energy and transportation continue their upward climb. While we have worked hard to mitigate these cost increases through productivity and supply-chain improvements, the magnitude of these cost increases mandates a pigment price increase at this time.” Sachtleben Chemie (a whollyowned subsidiary of Rockwood) joined in the general wave of price increases for TiO2 pigment and it also posted a 15% across-the-board increase, effective 15 July 2008, for all its lithopone and synthetic barium sulfate grades. The company stated: “This move is intended to balance out at least partially the drastic recent increases in costs for raw materials, energy and transport. Only in this way will it remain possible to continue conducting extensive – and vitally necessary – programmes of investment in research and development, in meeting highly demanding environmental and product quality standards, and in buying the latest plant hardware. These investments form the foundation stone for reliable and sustainable assuredness of supply of innovative white pigments and functional additives for discerning customers in all market segments around the globe.”
Press Releases from: DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, DE 19880-0036, USA (11, 19, 20 & 23 Jun 2008) & Tronox, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-7109, USA (13 & 25 Jun, 2 & 17 Jul 2008) & Kronos Worldwide, Dallas, TX 75240, USA (24 & 25 Jun 2008) & Cristal Global, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA & Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (12, 27 & 30 Jun & 8 Jul 2008 ) & Huntsman Tioxide, The Woodlands, TX, USA & Billingham, UK (27 Jun 2008) & Sachtleben, 47198 Duisburg, Germany (30 Jun 2008) & TiO2 Worldwide Update, May/Jun 2008, 16 (3), 47
Press Releases from: Rockwood Holdings, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA (29 May 2008) & Sachtleben, 47198 Duisburg, Germany (30 Jun 2008)
Rockwood & Sachtleben raise inorganic pigment prices by 5-20% Rockwood, which has the broadest inorganic pigments portfolio in the world, declared at the end of May that it would be raising its global prices for the full range of pigments by between 5% and 20%, effective 1 July 2008. This move affects the iron oxide, carbon black and chromium oxide green pigment sectors. Mr Andrew
4
Evonik raises pigment-grade carbon black prices by up to 18% Evonik plans to raise its pigmentgrade carbon black prices for the third time this year. Following 10% increases, due to take effect on 1 February and on 15 May, the company has announced a new set of price rises for furnace blacks, lamp blacks, gas blacks, and pigment preparations. Depending on the product group, the price increase will be up to 18% for all deliveries on or after 15 August. The company notes: “Previous price adjustments and counter-measures implemented by Evonik have not been sufficient to
compensate for the persistent and accelerating cost increases for feedstock, energy and transportation.” Press Release from: Evonik Industries AG, 1-11 Rellinghauser Strasse, D-45128 Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (21 Jul 2008)
Huber increases silica & silicate prices by up to 15% Citing an unprecedented escalation in energy, raw material and transportation costs, Huber has posted global price increases for its silica and silicate products supplied to the paper, dental and other sectors. The increases will be up to 15% depending on product grade and whether supplied in slurry form, as bulk or bagged powder. They will be implemented between 15 August and 1 September. Press Release from: Huber Engineered Materials, Atlanta, GA 30327, USA (1 Aug 2008)
Horsehead to levy monthly surcharge on ZnO, based on Nymex gas price Horsehead Corp will institute an energy surcharge on all shipments of zinc oxide, effective 1 August 2008. In order to calculate the amount of this surcharge, Horsehead will track the natural gas price as quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). For every $1.00 per MBThU increase in the natural gas price, Horsehead will levy a surcharge on its zinc oxide of $9.75 per tonne. The baseline will be taken as the average Nymex price quotation for the 16 months to the end of April 2008. Horsehead intends to adjust the surcharge upwards or downwards on a monthly basis in line with Nymex gas prices. Press Release from: Horsehead Corp, 300 Frankfort Road, Monaca, PA 15061 2295, USA. Website: http://www.horseheadcorp.com (10 Jul 2008)
DIC/Sun raises global prices for organic pigments by 10-30% The Performance Pigments Division of Sun Chemical (part of the Tokyobased DIC group) plans to increase global prices for its organic pigments by 10-30%, effective 1 July 2008. These increases are additional to the price rises implemented at the end of
AUGUST 2008
ON
PIGMENTS
announced a $150 per tonne price rise for Asia and a A$150 per tonne price rise for the Australian market. On 30 June, Cristal announced price rises of $200 per tonne for the Middle East and Africa; $0.06 per pound for North America; and €80 per tonne for Europe. Sachtleben announced price increases of €120 per tonne for its European customers and $180 per tonne for its customers in other parts of the world, scheduled to take effect as from 15 July. Separately, some suppliers have posted specific price increases applicable to pigment grades sold to North American papermakers. On 4 June, DuPont posted a surcharge of $0.04 per pound applicable to its RPS Vantage grades. On 13 June, this increase was matched by Tronox in respect of its paper industry grades. Meanwhile on 12 June, Cristal had declared an increase of $0.04 per pound in respect of its RCS-P grade and increases of $0.09 per pound in respect of all its anatase grades sold to North American papermakers. Also, Cristal announced that it would be raising the prices of all its speciality and ultrafine grades of TiO2 by 12%, effective 1 August 2008. This time round, there really should be some upward movement in TiO2 pigment prices, though it is also true that at the end of July there were signs of both an abatement to the continuing slide in US dollar exchange-rates and an easing of crude oil and energy prices.
Ross (President, Rockwood Color Pigments & Services) said: “The variable costs for pigment raw materials have risen in all areas at an unprecedented rate. Global prices for metal feedstocks, acids, alkalis, packaging material, energy and transportation continue their upward climb. While we have worked hard to mitigate these cost increases through productivity and supply-chain improvements, the magnitude of these cost increases mandates a pigment price increase at this time.” Sachtleben Chemie (a whollyowned subsidiary of Rockwood) joined in the general wave of price increases for TiO2 pigment and it also posted a 15% across-the-board increase, effective 15 July 2008, for all its lithopone and synthetic barium sulfate grades. The company stated: “This move is intended to balance out at least partially the drastic recent increases in costs for raw materials, energy and transport. Only in this way will it remain possible to continue conducting extensive – and vitally necessary – programmes of investment in research and development, in meeting highly demanding environmental and product quality standards, and in buying the latest plant hardware. These investments form the foundation stone for reliable and sustainable assuredness of supply of innovative white pigments and functional additives for discerning customers in all market segments around the globe.”
Press Releases from: DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, DE 19880-0036, USA (11, 19, 20 & 23 Jun 2008) & Tronox, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-7109, USA (13 & 25 Jun, 2 & 17 Jul 2008) & Kronos Worldwide, Dallas, TX 75240, USA (24 & 25 Jun 2008) & Cristal Global, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA & Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (12, 27 & 30 Jun & 8 Jul 2008 ) & Huntsman Tioxide, The Woodlands, TX, USA & Billingham, UK (27 Jun 2008) & Sachtleben, 47198 Duisburg, Germany (30 Jun 2008) & TiO2 Worldwide Update, May/Jun 2008, 16 (3), 47
Press Releases from: Rockwood Holdings, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA (29 May 2008) & Sachtleben, 47198 Duisburg, Germany (30 Jun 2008)
Rockwood & Sachtleben raise inorganic pigment prices by 5-20% Rockwood, which has the broadest inorganic pigments portfolio in the world, declared at the end of May that it would be raising its global prices for the full range of pigments by between 5% and 20%, effective 1 July 2008. This move affects the iron oxide, carbon black and chromium oxide green pigment sectors. Mr Andrew
4
Evonik raises pigment-grade carbon black prices by up to 18% Evonik plans to raise its pigmentgrade carbon black prices for the third time this year. Following 10% increases, due to take effect on 1 February and on 15 May, the company has announced a new set of price rises for furnace blacks, lamp blacks, gas blacks, and pigment preparations. Depending on the product group, the price increase will be up to 18% for all deliveries on or after 15 August. The company notes: “Previous price adjustments and counter-measures implemented by Evonik have not been sufficient to
compensate for the persistent and accelerating cost increases for feedstock, energy and transportation.” Press Release from: Evonik Industries AG, 1-11 Rellinghauser Strasse, D-45128 Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (21 Jul 2008)
Huber increases silica & silicate prices by up to 15% Citing an unprecedented escalation in energy, raw material and transportation costs, Huber has posted global price increases for its silica and silicate products supplied to the paper, dental and other sectors. The increases will be up to 15% depending on product grade and whether supplied in slurry form, as bulk or bagged powder. They will be implemented between 15 August and 1 September. Press Release from: Huber Engineered Materials, Atlanta, GA 30327, USA (1 Aug 2008)
Horsehead to levy monthly surcharge on ZnO, based on Nymex gas price Horsehead Corp will institute an energy surcharge on all shipments of zinc oxide, effective 1 August 2008. In order to calculate the amount of this surcharge, Horsehead will track the natural gas price as quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). For every $1.00 per MBThU increase in the natural gas price, Horsehead will levy a surcharge on its zinc oxide of $9.75 per tonne. The baseline will be taken as the average Nymex price quotation for the 16 months to the end of April 2008. Horsehead intends to adjust the surcharge upwards or downwards on a monthly basis in line with Nymex gas prices. Press Release from: Horsehead Corp, 300 Frankfort Road, Monaca, PA 15061 2295, USA. Website: http://www.horseheadcorp.com (10 Jul 2008)
DIC/Sun raises global prices for organic pigments by 10-30% The Performance Pigments Division of Sun Chemical (part of the Tokyobased DIC group) plans to increase global prices for its organic pigments by 10-30%, effective 1 July 2008. These increases are additional to the price rises implemented at the end of
AUGUST 2008