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Sichuan earthquake disrupts barytes supply logistics
F O C U S March 2008. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Apr 2008, 4). Press Release from: Sun Chemical, Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA (20 Jun 2008)
3 M tonnes/y of GCC in Eastern Europe Total ground calcium carbonate (GCC) capacity in Eastern Europe now amounts to 3 M tonnes/y, representing 4% of the world total. Western Russia accounts for 34% of the region’s GCC output, while the Czech Republic and Slovenia each contribute 17%. Limestone- and chalk-based products each represent 35% of GCC production, while marble accounts for the remaining 30%. Omya is the region’s leading supplier, with a capacity of 1.2 M tonnes/y. Calcit has a 500,000 tonnes/y operation in its home market (Slovenia) plus a 50,000 tonnes/y plant in Croatia. Koelgamramor (of Russia) accounts for 250,000 tonnes/y. Industrial Minerals, Jun 2008, (489), 48-57
Sichuan earthquake disrupts barytes supply logistics In the aftermath of the earthquake in Sichuan province on 12 May, the Chinese Government commandeered railcars from other provinces to transport food, water and medical supplies to the victims of the earthquake. This has inevitably hampered the logistics of moving barytes and other minerals from the mines to processing facilities, customer sites and ports. Until normal transport arrangements are restored, the major mines, including Yasheya’s new mines in Guangxi and Guizhou, are simply stockpiling their production. China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of barytes, with most of the export tonnage being shipped via the ports of Zhanjiang (Guangdong province) and Fangcheng (Guangxi province). Industrial Minerals, Jun 2008, (489), 6-7
Chinese organic colorant exporters are keen to reach European customers China’s output of organic pigments increased by 9.3% from 182,500 tonnes in 2006 to 199,500 tonnes in 2007. Meanwhile, the output of organic dyes (including sulfur dyes)
AUGUST 2008
O N
PIGMENTS
increased by 7.8% from 251,700 tonnes to 284,400 tonnes. The main types of dye included in this total were disperse dyes (341,000 tonnes); reactive dyes (181,000 tonnes); and sulfur dyes, notably sulfur black (85,000 tonnes). Major contributors to the increases in output were: Jihua Chemical, Xiasha Hengsheng Chemical and Baihe Chemical (all in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province); Runtu Chemical and Longsheng Holdings (elsewhere in Zhejiang province); Taixing Jinji Dyestuffs, Yabang Dyestuffs and Kaida Fine Chemical (in Jiangsu province); and Jiehong Pigment Chemical (in Shanghai). Imports of organic pigments dropped from 34,300 tonnes (worth $206.2 M) in 2006 to 30,800 tonnes (worth $213.2 M). Of this total, Guangdong received 18,285 tonnes; Shanghai received 4547 tonnes; and Jiangsu received 4075 tonnes. Nearly 15,000 tonnes was imported from Hong Kong. Another 4107 tonnes came from Japanese suppliers of organic pigments and 3173 tonnes came from Korean suppliers. According to the China Dyestuff Industry Association (CDIA), exports of organic pigments increased from 138,600 tonnes (worth $620.5 M) to 161,900 tonnes (worth $827.7 M). The major export markets are reported as: the US, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. By factory origin, the main sources of organic pigment exports are located in Shanghai China: Organic Pigments & Dyes Data
Pigments – 2007 Output Imports Exports Pigments – 2006 Output Imports Exports Dyes – 2007 Output Imports Exports Dyes – 2006 Output Imports Exports
‘000 tonnes
US$ M
199.5 30.8 161.9
na 213.2 827.7
182.5 34.3 138.6
na 206.2 620.5
753.7 67.0 284.4
na 442.4 1004.0
699.2 67.6 251.7
na 398.6 803.9
Source: CDIA, April 2008
(42,131 tonnes); Jiangsu (34,051 tonnes); Zhejiang (33,192 tonnes); Guangdong (14,894 tonnes); Shandong (14,272 tonnes); and Tianjin (11,397 tonnes). However, ‘CCR’ notes that these figures seem to include some printing ink pigment pastes and colour masterbatches. The consensus view among pigment producers is an organic pigment export total of around 75,000 tonnes. Effective 1 July 2007, the Chinese Government introduced a new export policy designed to stimulate domestic consumption rather than unfairly promoting exports. In the case of the organic pigments and dyes sector, suppliers used to get a 13% rebate on sales tax for all products exported. After 1 July 2007, the rebate was zero. The pigment and dyes suppliers immediately increased their export prices by 10-15%. There was a significant reduction in purchase orders from foreign customers during July and August 2007, but by 4Q 2007 trade flows had returned to normal. In fact, it can be argued that there has been no long-term damage to China’s exports at all. During the first six months of the year, total organic pigments and dyes exports amounted to 221,000 tonnes (worth $832 M) and in the second half of the year total exports amounted to 225,000 tonnes (worth $1.001 bn). Even after the 10-15% price hikes, Chinese organic pigments and dyes are still generally cheaper than European and US products, while remaining competitive with products from other Asian suppliers. Of the 446,000 tonnes of organic pigments and dyes exported in fullyear 2007, about 200,000 tonnes went to markets in the EU. Consequently, the leading Chinese suppliers are mindful of the impact of the new European REACH legislation for registering all chemical products, with a view to evaluating potential hazardous effects. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jan 2006, 1-3). Before 1 May 2008, about 60 Chinese manufacturers had submitted the required technical data to the CDIA on 690 separate products (dyes, organic pigments and textile dyeing or printing auxiliary chemicals). Over the next seven months, to end-November 2008, the number of Chinese manufacturers involved in the CDIA scheme is expected to reach 100,
5
3 M tonnes/y of GCC in Eastern Europe Total ground calcium carbonate (GCC) capacity in Eastern Europe now amounts to 3 M tonnes/y, representing 4% of the world total. Western Russia accounts for 34% of the region’s GCC output, while the Czech Republic and Slovenia each contribute 17%. Limestone- and chalk-based products each represent 35% of GCC production, while marble accounts for the remaining 30%. Omya is the region’s leading supplier, with a capacity of 1.2 M tonnes/y. Calcit has a 500,000 tonnes/y operation in its home market (Slovenia) plus a 50,000 tonnes/y plant in Croatia. Koelgamramor (of Russia) accounts for 250,000 tonnes/y. Industrial Minerals, Jun 2008, (489), 48-57
Sichuan earthquake disrupts barytes supply logistics In the aftermath of the earthquake in Sichuan province on 12 May, the Chinese Government commandeered railcars from other provinces to transport food, water and medical supplies to the victims of the earthquake. This has inevitably hampered the logistics of moving barytes and other minerals from the mines to processing facilities, customer sites and ports. Until normal transport arrangements are restored, the major mines, including Yasheya’s new mines in Guangxi and Guizhou, are simply stockpiling their production. China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of barytes, with most of the export tonnage being shipped via the ports of Zhanjiang (Guangdong province) and Fangcheng (Guangxi province). Industrial Minerals, Jun 2008, (489), 6-7
Chinese organic colorant exporters are keen to reach European customers China’s output of organic pigments increased by 9.3% from 182,500 tonnes in 2006 to 199,500 tonnes in 2007. Meanwhile, the output of organic dyes (including sulfur dyes)
AUGUST 2008
O N
PIGMENTS
increased by 7.8% from 251,700 tonnes to 284,400 tonnes. The main types of dye included in this total were disperse dyes (341,000 tonnes); reactive dyes (181,000 tonnes); and sulfur dyes, notably sulfur black (85,000 tonnes). Major contributors to the increases in output were: Jihua Chemical, Xiasha Hengsheng Chemical and Baihe Chemical (all in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province); Runtu Chemical and Longsheng Holdings (elsewhere in Zhejiang province); Taixing Jinji Dyestuffs, Yabang Dyestuffs and Kaida Fine Chemical (in Jiangsu province); and Jiehong Pigment Chemical (in Shanghai). Imports of organic pigments dropped from 34,300 tonnes (worth $206.2 M) in 2006 to 30,800 tonnes (worth $213.2 M). Of this total, Guangdong received 18,285 tonnes; Shanghai received 4547 tonnes; and Jiangsu received 4075 tonnes. Nearly 15,000 tonnes was imported from Hong Kong. Another 4107 tonnes came from Japanese suppliers of organic pigments and 3173 tonnes came from Korean suppliers. According to the China Dyestuff Industry Association (CDIA), exports of organic pigments increased from 138,600 tonnes (worth $620.5 M) to 161,900 tonnes (worth $827.7 M). The major export markets are reported as: the US, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. By factory origin, the main sources of organic pigment exports are located in Shanghai China: Organic Pigments & Dyes Data
Pigments – 2007 Output Imports Exports Pigments – 2006 Output Imports Exports Dyes – 2007 Output Imports Exports Dyes – 2006 Output Imports Exports
‘000 tonnes
US$ M
199.5 30.8 161.9
na 213.2 827.7
182.5 34.3 138.6
na 206.2 620.5
753.7 67.0 284.4
na 442.4 1004.0
699.2 67.6 251.7
na 398.6 803.9
Source: CDIA, April 2008
(42,131 tonnes); Jiangsu (34,051 tonnes); Zhejiang (33,192 tonnes); Guangdong (14,894 tonnes); Shandong (14,272 tonnes); and Tianjin (11,397 tonnes). However, ‘CCR’ notes that these figures seem to include some printing ink pigment pastes and colour masterbatches. The consensus view among pigment producers is an organic pigment export total of around 75,000 tonnes. Effective 1 July 2007, the Chinese Government introduced a new export policy designed to stimulate domestic consumption rather than unfairly promoting exports. In the case of the organic pigments and dyes sector, suppliers used to get a 13% rebate on sales tax for all products exported. After 1 July 2007, the rebate was zero. The pigment and dyes suppliers immediately increased their export prices by 10-15%. There was a significant reduction in purchase orders from foreign customers during July and August 2007, but by 4Q 2007 trade flows had returned to normal. In fact, it can be argued that there has been no long-term damage to China’s exports at all. During the first six months of the year, total organic pigments and dyes exports amounted to 221,000 tonnes (worth $832 M) and in the second half of the year total exports amounted to 225,000 tonnes (worth $1.001 bn). Even after the 10-15% price hikes, Chinese organic pigments and dyes are still generally cheaper than European and US products, while remaining competitive with products from other Asian suppliers. Of the 446,000 tonnes of organic pigments and dyes exported in fullyear 2007, about 200,000 tonnes went to markets in the EU. Consequently, the leading Chinese suppliers are mindful of the impact of the new European REACH legislation for registering all chemical products, with a view to evaluating potential hazardous effects. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jan 2006, 1-3). Before 1 May 2008, about 60 Chinese manufacturers had submitted the required technical data to the CDIA on 690 separate products (dyes, organic pigments and textile dyeing or printing auxiliary chemicals). Over the next seven months, to end-November 2008, the number of Chinese manufacturers involved in the CDIA scheme is expected to reach 100,
5