- Email: [email protected]
y this year
FOCUS envisages a bright future for natural treatments (such as jojoba esters) and for fluorosilane coated pigments. He also sees research into film-formers (such as polycyclopentadiene, MQ resins and MT resins) as offering potential for innovative cosmetic pigments. Film-formers was the specific theme of the presentation by Dr Martina Heldermann (of Inolex). She stated that transfer resistance was one of the most important functions of the film-former in a cosmetic product because it facilitates long wear-times (product life-in-service) and helps prevent rub-off. Other functions of filmformers include: improved gloss, waterproofing and moisturising through occlusivity. She also described her company’s patented polyester filmformers, marketed under the Lexorez brandname. Reg Adams 1) ‘Autumn colours in Berlin’, Focus on Pigments, Dec 2011, 1-3 2) For those who were unable to attend the event, the full set of 27 published conference papers from the Berlin ‘Future of Pigments’ and ‘Colour Cosmetics’ conferences (24-26 Oct 2011) is available for sale. For details, please contact: Ms Rebecca Kotsimpulos, IntertechPira, 19 Northbrook Drive, Portland, ME 04105, USA, tel: +1 (207) 781 9800, e-mail: [email protected]
MARKETS More TiO2 price rises posted just before Christmas As reported in ‘Focus on Pigments’, Dec 2011, 3-5, Huntsman pioneered the latest wave of TiO2 pigment price increases for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on 23 November. It declared that it would be raising its prices by €300 per tonne for European customers and by $350 per tonne for customers in the other two regions. These increases are scheduled to become effective as from 1 January 2012. By the beginning of Week 50 (12 December), Tronox and Kronos had echoed the €300 per tonne increase. For customers invoiced in US dollars, Tronox posted an increase of $350 per tonne (in line with Huntsman’s announcement), but Kronos posted an increase of $400 per tonne. The world’s two largest suppliers were rather more cautious. On 13
JANUARY 2012
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December, Cristal posted increases of €250 per tonne and $300 per tonne, effective 1 January 2012. At the end of this particular cycle, on 15 December, DuPont posted increases of €200 per tonne and $250 per tonne, with the effective date postponed until 1 February. If all these increases are fully implemented, the range of prices paid by European customers during 1Q 2012 will be of the order of €3200-3800 per tonne. At the $/€exchange rate of $1.295, this would translate to $4145-4920 per tonne. In the Asia/Pacific markets, four of the major multinationals had posted their 1Q 2012 price increases before the end of November 2011. The increases varied from $350 per tonne at the upper end (Huntsman) down to $200 per tonne at the lower end (DuPont). Cristal finally made its declaration for Asia/Pacific on 13 December, pitching its increase at $250 per tonne. For Latin America, posted price increases throughout the second half of 2011 were more ambitious than in most other market regions. Increases posted for the beginning of both the third and fourth quarters were typically $500 per tonne. During November, Kronos had announced an increase of $300 per tonne, while Huntsman and Tronox had both posted increases of $350 per tonne, effective 1 January 2012. On 13 December, Cristal declared an increase of $300 per tonne for Latin American customers. Two days later, as in Europe, DuPont announced a price increase that was more modest than any of its competitors: $250 per tonne, effective 1 February 2012. For North American customers, there had already been five waves of price-increase announcements between late February and the end of October 2011. But there was still room for one more wave. On 16 December, DuPont announced a $0.15 per pound increase for its full portfolio of TiO2 pigment products, the increase being scheduled to take effect as from 1 January 2012. This was matched by Huntsman on 16 December and by Kronos and Tronox on 21 December. In due course, Cristal will probably follow suit. The average realised price for TiO2 pigment sold to US customers in October 2011 was $1.79 per pound, on the basis of data from the US
Bureau of Labor Statistics. One $0.15 per pound increase was due to take effect as from 1 November, with a second scheduled for the beginning of the New Year. If both increases were to be fully implemented, the average US price would rise to $2.09 per pound during 1Q 2012. This would be equivalent to $4608 per tonne. Press Releases from: Kronos Worldwide, Dallas, TX 75240, USA (5 & 21 Dec 2011) & DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, DE 19880-0036, USA (15 & 16 Dec 2011) & Tronox, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-7109, USA (21 Dec 2011) & Cristal Global, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA & Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (13 Dec 2011) & Huntsman Pigments, Houston, TX 77380, USA (23 Nov 2011)
Teh FongMin of Taiwan indicted for dumping optical brighteners in the US Following an investigation of imports for the full calendar year 2010, the US Department of Commerce has made a preliminary determination that certain optical brighteners (based on stibenes) were being sold in the US market at less than fair value. These products were supplied by Teh FongMin International Co Ltd (of Taiwan) and the selling price was estimated to be 12.03% below fair value. Interested parties have been invited to comment on this finding. The next stage is likely to be the imposition of an anti-dumping duty. Original Source: Federal Register, 3 Nov 2011, 76 (213), 68154-681559 (Website: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys)
Japanese domestic shipments of TiO2 should pass 200,000 tonnes/y this year After a sharp decline in fiscal years 2008/09 and 2009/10, Japan’s TiO2 consumption recovered somewhat during the year to end-March 2011. There was also a recovery in foreign trade, with Japan’s imports rising by 13% to 81,586 tonnes and exports rising by 25% to 83,933 tonnes. Despite the impact of the earthquake in northeastern Honshu and the adverse effects of a strong Yen, Japanese TiO2 manufacturers are confident that TiO2 shipments to domestic customers will pass the 200,000 tonnes/y mark in the current fiscal year, to end-March 2012. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp, 27 Oct 2011, (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp), © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2011
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MARKETS More TiO2 price rises posted just before Christmas As reported in ‘Focus on Pigments’, Dec 2011, 3-5, Huntsman pioneered the latest wave of TiO2 pigment price increases for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on 23 November. It declared that it would be raising its prices by €300 per tonne for European customers and by $350 per tonne for customers in the other two regions. These increases are scheduled to become effective as from 1 January 2012. By the beginning of Week 50 (12 December), Tronox and Kronos had echoed the €300 per tonne increase. For customers invoiced in US dollars, Tronox posted an increase of $350 per tonne (in line with Huntsman’s announcement), but Kronos posted an increase of $400 per tonne. The world’s two largest suppliers were rather more cautious. On 13
JANUARY 2012
ON
PIGMENTS
December, Cristal posted increases of €250 per tonne and $300 per tonne, effective 1 January 2012. At the end of this particular cycle, on 15 December, DuPont posted increases of €200 per tonne and $250 per tonne, with the effective date postponed until 1 February. If all these increases are fully implemented, the range of prices paid by European customers during 1Q 2012 will be of the order of €3200-3800 per tonne. At the $/€exchange rate of $1.295, this would translate to $4145-4920 per tonne. In the Asia/Pacific markets, four of the major multinationals had posted their 1Q 2012 price increases before the end of November 2011. The increases varied from $350 per tonne at the upper end (Huntsman) down to $200 per tonne at the lower end (DuPont). Cristal finally made its declaration for Asia/Pacific on 13 December, pitching its increase at $250 per tonne. For Latin America, posted price increases throughout the second half of 2011 were more ambitious than in most other market regions. Increases posted for the beginning of both the third and fourth quarters were typically $500 per tonne. During November, Kronos had announced an increase of $300 per tonne, while Huntsman and Tronox had both posted increases of $350 per tonne, effective 1 January 2012. On 13 December, Cristal declared an increase of $300 per tonne for Latin American customers. Two days later, as in Europe, DuPont announced a price increase that was more modest than any of its competitors: $250 per tonne, effective 1 February 2012. For North American customers, there had already been five waves of price-increase announcements between late February and the end of October 2011. But there was still room for one more wave. On 16 December, DuPont announced a $0.15 per pound increase for its full portfolio of TiO2 pigment products, the increase being scheduled to take effect as from 1 January 2012. This was matched by Huntsman on 16 December and by Kronos and Tronox on 21 December. In due course, Cristal will probably follow suit. The average realised price for TiO2 pigment sold to US customers in October 2011 was $1.79 per pound, on the basis of data from the US
Bureau of Labor Statistics. One $0.15 per pound increase was due to take effect as from 1 November, with a second scheduled for the beginning of the New Year. If both increases were to be fully implemented, the average US price would rise to $2.09 per pound during 1Q 2012. This would be equivalent to $4608 per tonne. Press Releases from: Kronos Worldwide, Dallas, TX 75240, USA (5 & 21 Dec 2011) & DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, DE 19880-0036, USA (15 & 16 Dec 2011) & Tronox, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-7109, USA (21 Dec 2011) & Cristal Global, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA & Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (13 Dec 2011) & Huntsman Pigments, Houston, TX 77380, USA (23 Nov 2011)
Teh FongMin of Taiwan indicted for dumping optical brighteners in the US Following an investigation of imports for the full calendar year 2010, the US Department of Commerce has made a preliminary determination that certain optical brighteners (based on stibenes) were being sold in the US market at less than fair value. These products were supplied by Teh FongMin International Co Ltd (of Taiwan) and the selling price was estimated to be 12.03% below fair value. Interested parties have been invited to comment on this finding. The next stage is likely to be the imposition of an anti-dumping duty. Original Source: Federal Register, 3 Nov 2011, 76 (213), 68154-681559 (Website: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys)
Japanese domestic shipments of TiO2 should pass 200,000 tonnes/y this year After a sharp decline in fiscal years 2008/09 and 2009/10, Japan’s TiO2 consumption recovered somewhat during the year to end-March 2011. There was also a recovery in foreign trade, with Japan’s imports rising by 13% to 81,586 tonnes and exports rising by 25% to 83,933 tonnes. Despite the impact of the earthquake in northeastern Honshu and the adverse effects of a strong Yen, Japanese TiO2 manufacturers are confident that TiO2 shipments to domestic customers will pass the 200,000 tonnes/y mark in the current fiscal year, to end-March 2012. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp, 27 Oct 2011, (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp), © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2011
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