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Honeywell forecasts strong growth in usage of luminescent pigments
F O C US consumption of zircon is forecast to reach 1.188 M tonnes/y by 2005. Industrial Minerals, May 2003, (428), 42-45
Honeywell forecasts strong growth in usage of luminescent pigments According to Honeywell, US consumption of luminescent pigments for safety applications increased by 50% last year. US consumption over the next few years is forecast to rise at 20-30% per annum. Meanwhile, in Europe demand is strong for luminescent pigments to provide afterglow in safety guidance systems. The major end-uses for luminescent pigments are in: brand security and authentication (ie anti-counterfeiting measures). Honeywell itself manufactures the Lumilux range of pigments at Seelze (Germany) and is keen to widen the palette of available colours. Chemical Market Reporter, 24 Mar 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Chinese, German & Indian suppliers dumping optical brighteners in the US? The position regarding possible dumping of optical brighteners in the US market is a little confused. In early April 2003, the US International Trade Commission announced that it had begun investigating allegations that optical brighteners from China, Germany and India were being sold in the US at less than fair value. The investigation was apparently sparked off by a complaint from Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Then, on 10 April, the US Department of Commerce (USDC) announced that it had received notification from Ciba that the company wanted to drop its complaint. On 14 May, the USDC reported that it had received an anti-dumping petition from Ciba. Supplementary information was provided on 27 May and 29 May. Ciba alleges that exports of optical brighteners from India are being unfairly subsidised by the Indian Government. The formal petition names the products under scrutiny as: 4,4’-diamino-2,2’-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DAS) and stilbenic fluorescent whitening agents (SFWA). DAS is essentially an intermediate, which is quite widely used to produce SFWA, which are synthetic organic products normally used as fluorescent
JULY 2003
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PIGMENTS
brightening agents in the production of certain textiles, papers and detergents. Federal Register, 8 Apr 2003, 68 (67), 17084-17085 & 10 Jun 2003, 68 (111), 34582-34584 & 10 Jun 2003, 68 (111), 34579-34584 (Website: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html)
India levies duties of up to $358 per tonne on Chinese anatase TiO2 The Designated Authority in the Directorate General of Anti-dumping & Allied Duties has investigated claims of dumping of Chinese anatase-type TiO2 on the Indian market, following complaints by Travancore Titanium Products (TTP of Trivandrum), Kolmak Chemicals (of Kolkata) and Kilburn Chemicals (of Chennai). The investigation focused on imports during calendar year 2002. The complaints were upheld and provisional anti-dumping duties have been imposed as follows: $303.70 per tonne on imports from Shaugan Chemical Works; $313.01 per tonne on imports from Guangxi Dahua Chemical Works; $342.34 per tonne on imports from Guangxi XiXing MeiXiang Titanium Manufacturing Co; and $358.04 per tonne on imports from all other Chinese suppliers. Business Line, 14 Jun 2003, 10 (164), 4
China’s organic pigments output approaches 100,000 tonnes/y China’s production of organic pigments increased by 11.15% to reach 95,700 tonnes in 2002. Meanwhile, the country’s production of dyes increased by 31.33% to reach 421,300 tonnes. The production of disperse dyes increased by 29% to 226,000 tonnes, while the output of reactive dyes increased by 34.1% to 38,000 tonnes. The leading producer of organic pigments was Shanghai BASF, a 51:49 joint venture between BASF Colorants and Shanghai Dyestuffs. This company increased its organic pigment output by 2.23% to 11,302 tonnes in 2002. Hebei Jiehong Pigment & Chemical Industrial Co Ltd was the second largest producer, with 8400 tonnes. The leading producer of dyes was Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co Ltd with an output of 70,892 tonnes in 2002, up 56.4% on the 2001 figure. In
second place was Zhejiang Runtu Chemical Industrial Group Corp, which registered a 52% increase in output to 59,412 tonnes last year. Exports of organic pigments rose by 13.4% to 82,000 tonnes, worth $79.49 M. Major destinations were: Taiwan (21,600 tonnes, valued at $52.72 M); the United States (13,320 tonnes, valued at $51.78 M); and Germany (7420 tonnes, valued at $40.6 M). Imports of organic pigments into China increased by 11.1% to 30,340 tonnes, with Taiwan and Japan being the major suppliers. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Apr 2003, 14 (12), 21-24
7%/y growth in demand for minerals in North American plastics Minerals used as reinforcements, pigment extenders and fillers find application in a variety of end-use applications in paint, paper, plastics, rubber, inks, etc. In this context, total North American demand exceeded 15 M tonnes, valued at $1.9 bn, last year. The paper industry is the dominant end-use sector, accounting for roughly 50% of consumption by volume. Until about 10 years ago, the plastics industry was a comparatively minor consumer, but it is now the second largest, with an intake of 2 M tonnes, valued at $500 M. (These figures exclude TiO2 consumption). The plastics sector tends to consume relatively expensive minerals, the average price tag being $225 per tonne – about twice the overall average for all end-use sectors. Plastics compounders work with a variety of minerals, including calcium carbonate, talc, alumina trihydrate (ATH), silica, mica, kaolin, diatomite and wollastonite. Since 1980, the tonnage consumption of these minerals in plastics has increased by 7%/y. Over the same period, North America’s consumption of plastics has increased by 4-5%/y. In 1980, about 9% of all plastics incorporated minerals. By 2002, the figure had risen to 15%. Some of the attractive markets for mineral-filled plastics include: polypropylene for decks, railings, automotive interior panels and seat backs; polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for window/door frames; nylon for highheat connectors, automotive underhood applications; ATH and other
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Honeywell forecasts strong growth in usage of luminescent pigments According to Honeywell, US consumption of luminescent pigments for safety applications increased by 50% last year. US consumption over the next few years is forecast to rise at 20-30% per annum. Meanwhile, in Europe demand is strong for luminescent pigments to provide afterglow in safety guidance systems. The major end-uses for luminescent pigments are in: brand security and authentication (ie anti-counterfeiting measures). Honeywell itself manufactures the Lumilux range of pigments at Seelze (Germany) and is keen to widen the palette of available colours. Chemical Market Reporter, 24 Mar 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Chinese, German & Indian suppliers dumping optical brighteners in the US? The position regarding possible dumping of optical brighteners in the US market is a little confused. In early April 2003, the US International Trade Commission announced that it had begun investigating allegations that optical brighteners from China, Germany and India were being sold in the US at less than fair value. The investigation was apparently sparked off by a complaint from Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Then, on 10 April, the US Department of Commerce (USDC) announced that it had received notification from Ciba that the company wanted to drop its complaint. On 14 May, the USDC reported that it had received an anti-dumping petition from Ciba. Supplementary information was provided on 27 May and 29 May. Ciba alleges that exports of optical brighteners from India are being unfairly subsidised by the Indian Government. The formal petition names the products under scrutiny as: 4,4’-diamino-2,2’-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DAS) and stilbenic fluorescent whitening agents (SFWA). DAS is essentially an intermediate, which is quite widely used to produce SFWA, which are synthetic organic products normally used as fluorescent
JULY 2003
O N
PIGMENTS
brightening agents in the production of certain textiles, papers and detergents. Federal Register, 8 Apr 2003, 68 (67), 17084-17085 & 10 Jun 2003, 68 (111), 34582-34584 & 10 Jun 2003, 68 (111), 34579-34584 (Website: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html)
India levies duties of up to $358 per tonne on Chinese anatase TiO2 The Designated Authority in the Directorate General of Anti-dumping & Allied Duties has investigated claims of dumping of Chinese anatase-type TiO2 on the Indian market, following complaints by Travancore Titanium Products (TTP of Trivandrum), Kolmak Chemicals (of Kolkata) and Kilburn Chemicals (of Chennai). The investigation focused on imports during calendar year 2002. The complaints were upheld and provisional anti-dumping duties have been imposed as follows: $303.70 per tonne on imports from Shaugan Chemical Works; $313.01 per tonne on imports from Guangxi Dahua Chemical Works; $342.34 per tonne on imports from Guangxi XiXing MeiXiang Titanium Manufacturing Co; and $358.04 per tonne on imports from all other Chinese suppliers. Business Line, 14 Jun 2003, 10 (164), 4
China’s organic pigments output approaches 100,000 tonnes/y China’s production of organic pigments increased by 11.15% to reach 95,700 tonnes in 2002. Meanwhile, the country’s production of dyes increased by 31.33% to reach 421,300 tonnes. The production of disperse dyes increased by 29% to 226,000 tonnes, while the output of reactive dyes increased by 34.1% to 38,000 tonnes. The leading producer of organic pigments was Shanghai BASF, a 51:49 joint venture between BASF Colorants and Shanghai Dyestuffs. This company increased its organic pigment output by 2.23% to 11,302 tonnes in 2002. Hebei Jiehong Pigment & Chemical Industrial Co Ltd was the second largest producer, with 8400 tonnes. The leading producer of dyes was Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co Ltd with an output of 70,892 tonnes in 2002, up 56.4% on the 2001 figure. In
second place was Zhejiang Runtu Chemical Industrial Group Corp, which registered a 52% increase in output to 59,412 tonnes last year. Exports of organic pigments rose by 13.4% to 82,000 tonnes, worth $79.49 M. Major destinations were: Taiwan (21,600 tonnes, valued at $52.72 M); the United States (13,320 tonnes, valued at $51.78 M); and Germany (7420 tonnes, valued at $40.6 M). Imports of organic pigments into China increased by 11.1% to 30,340 tonnes, with Taiwan and Japan being the major suppliers. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Apr 2003, 14 (12), 21-24
7%/y growth in demand for minerals in North American plastics Minerals used as reinforcements, pigment extenders and fillers find application in a variety of end-use applications in paint, paper, plastics, rubber, inks, etc. In this context, total North American demand exceeded 15 M tonnes, valued at $1.9 bn, last year. The paper industry is the dominant end-use sector, accounting for roughly 50% of consumption by volume. Until about 10 years ago, the plastics industry was a comparatively minor consumer, but it is now the second largest, with an intake of 2 M tonnes, valued at $500 M. (These figures exclude TiO2 consumption). The plastics sector tends to consume relatively expensive minerals, the average price tag being $225 per tonne – about twice the overall average for all end-use sectors. Plastics compounders work with a variety of minerals, including calcium carbonate, talc, alumina trihydrate (ATH), silica, mica, kaolin, diatomite and wollastonite. Since 1980, the tonnage consumption of these minerals in plastics has increased by 7%/y. Over the same period, North America’s consumption of plastics has increased by 4-5%/y. In 1980, about 9% of all plastics incorporated minerals. By 2002, the figure had risen to 15%. Some of the attractive markets for mineral-filled plastics include: polypropylene for decks, railings, automotive interior panels and seat backs; polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for window/door frames; nylon for highheat connectors, automotive underhood applications; ATH and other
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