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Bird's Eye eliminates colorants in food products
FOCUS Regional demand has been more or less matched by supply, with most GCC being produced close to the raw material source. For high-purity, highbrightness GCC, marble is the raw material of choice. Although Europe does not have as many high-bright marble resources as parts of Asia, the quality of marble chips from European deposits can usually be enhanced to a satisfactory level by flotation and magnetic separation techniques. The major West European marble deposits are at: Gummern (Austria), Lappeenranta (Finland), Carrara (Italy), Molde and Hesvika (Norway), Macael (Spain) and Byamic (Turkey). To produce GCC with less demanding brightness criteria, chalk and limestone are often used as the raw material source. Limestone to make GCC is mined at: Landelies and Creyeurs (Belgium), Orgon and Pouzillac (France), Burgberg (Germany) and Avezzano and Sacile (Italy). Chalk deposits that are exploited to make GCC include those at: Aggersund and Stevns (Denmark), Precy-sur-Oise (France), Lägerdorf (Germany) and Ashwood Dale, Dowlow, Beverley and Salisbury (United Kingdom). The largest GCC operation in Western Europe is at Einesvågen (Norway), which processes about 3 M tonnes/y of marble from three local mines. A new mine is being developed at Velfjord in central Norway and this will also ship marble chips to the Einesvågen plant. The Norwegian mines and GCC plant are run by Hustadmarmor A/S, owned 79% by Omya and 21% by the Steinsvik family. In Austria, Omya has a 2.5 M tonnes/y plant at Gummern and a much smaller operation at Feldbach. The Omya group (aka PluessStaufer, headquartered at Oftringen, Switzerland) is by far the most important GCC supplier in Europe. Indeed, Omya is the global market leader in GCC, with a total capacity of nearly 21 M tonnes/y, of which 65% is based in Western Europe, 21% in North America and 7% in Asia. Other significant suppliers to West European GCC markets are: Imerys (with a 12% market-share), Reverté (with a 6% market-share) and Provencale (with a 3% market-share). For the medium-term future, the prospects for GCC consumption in
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PIGMENTS
Western Europe look fairly healthy, though it is unlikely to sustain a growth rate of 4% per annum. The paper industry will continue to be the major consumer of GCC, but there is little scope for further displacement of kaolin, so GCC consumption growth from now onwards should be more closely aligned to the growth in paper production, specifically the production of printing and writing papers – forecast at about 2% per annum. There will also be opportunities for the major suppliers to market specialist grades of GCC in breathable plastic films and various food and pharmaceutical applications. Reg Adams
MARKETS Surcharges on prices of molybdenumbased pigments European Colour has declared that it will impose a surcharge on its prices for molybdenum-containing pigments used for making certain types of printing ink for packaging applications. The surcharge will be based on the average weekly price of molybdenum oxide at the start of every month and it will continue to be imposed while there is volatility in the price of molybdenum oxide. Higher prices are also being charged by suppliers of molybdenum reds and oranges. The root cause is the spiralling cost of molybdenum metal, created by unusually high demand from the Chinese steel industry. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Jun 2004, 194 (4477), 6
Bird’s Eye eliminates colorants in food products Bird’s Eye (part of the Unilever group) has launched a £25 M marketing campaign promoting the claim that all 130 of its food products are now free from virtually all E- numbers (artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives). The company spent £4 M overhauling its product range, dropping about 100 ingredients. Bird’s Eye claims to be the first major manufacturer to get rid of E- numbers
in its products. The world food additives market is currently worth about $19.8 bn, with food colorants accounting for over $1 M. The Independent, 6 Jul 2004 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
European precipitated silica survey The EU’s total capacity for precipitated silica at the end of 2003 was 475,000 tonnes/y. One of the major applications is in the manufacture of tyres, where precipitated silica is used as a substitute for carbon black. For tyres incorporating precipitated silica, manufacturers often use the term “green tyres” (denoting environmentally friendly products). “Green tyres” are clearly much more popular in Europe than in any other region of the world, but there are signs that demand growth for “green tyres” is beginning to slow down, indicating the maturity phase in the product life-cycle. Nearly 60% of the total consumption of precipitated silica in the EU is accounted for by the rubber industry. In Scandinavia, the paper industry is also an important consumer of precipitated silica. Relatively small quantities of highpurity precipitated silica are used in toothpaste and in food colorants. According to Notch Consulting, the breakdown by end-use is: 42% for tyres; 15% for other rubber products; 13% for paint, plastics and various chemical products; 12% for nutrition and healthcare products; 9% for toothpaste; 9% for paper. Germany is the largest market, accounting for 24% of total EU consumption. France accounts for 19%, Italy for 12% and the UK for 9%. Between now and 2010, demand is expected to increase by 2-2.5% per annum to reach 400,000-410,000 tonnes (worth $470 M) in 2010. Degussa and Rhodia are the two leading global suppliers of precipitated silica. Degussa has wholly-owned plants in Germany and Spain. It also has a 51% stake in Egesil, the Turkish producer. Rhodia has wholly-owned plants in France, Italy and Spain. Ineos Silicas (of the UK) is one of Europe’s major suppliers of food and dental grades. European Chemical News, 14 Jun 2004, 80 (2104), 16
AUGUST 2004
2
ON
PIGMENTS
Western Europe look fairly healthy, though it is unlikely to sustain a growth rate of 4% per annum. The paper industry will continue to be the major consumer of GCC, but there is little scope for further displacement of kaolin, so GCC consumption growth from now onwards should be more closely aligned to the growth in paper production, specifically the production of printing and writing papers – forecast at about 2% per annum. There will also be opportunities for the major suppliers to market specialist grades of GCC in breathable plastic films and various food and pharmaceutical applications. Reg Adams
MARKETS Surcharges on prices of molybdenumbased pigments European Colour has declared that it will impose a surcharge on its prices for molybdenum-containing pigments used for making certain types of printing ink for packaging applications. The surcharge will be based on the average weekly price of molybdenum oxide at the start of every month and it will continue to be imposed while there is volatility in the price of molybdenum oxide. Higher prices are also being charged by suppliers of molybdenum reds and oranges. The root cause is the spiralling cost of molybdenum metal, created by unusually high demand from the Chinese steel industry. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Jun 2004, 194 (4477), 6
Bird’s Eye eliminates colorants in food products Bird’s Eye (part of the Unilever group) has launched a £25 M marketing campaign promoting the claim that all 130 of its food products are now free from virtually all E- numbers (artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives). The company spent £4 M overhauling its product range, dropping about 100 ingredients. Bird’s Eye claims to be the first major manufacturer to get rid of E- numbers
in its products. The world food additives market is currently worth about $19.8 bn, with food colorants accounting for over $1 M. The Independent, 6 Jul 2004 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
European precipitated silica survey The EU’s total capacity for precipitated silica at the end of 2003 was 475,000 tonnes/y. One of the major applications is in the manufacture of tyres, where precipitated silica is used as a substitute for carbon black. For tyres incorporating precipitated silica, manufacturers often use the term “green tyres” (denoting environmentally friendly products). “Green tyres” are clearly much more popular in Europe than in any other region of the world, but there are signs that demand growth for “green tyres” is beginning to slow down, indicating the maturity phase in the product life-cycle. Nearly 60% of the total consumption of precipitated silica in the EU is accounted for by the rubber industry. In Scandinavia, the paper industry is also an important consumer of precipitated silica. Relatively small quantities of highpurity precipitated silica are used in toothpaste and in food colorants. According to Notch Consulting, the breakdown by end-use is: 42% for tyres; 15% for other rubber products; 13% for paint, plastics and various chemical products; 12% for nutrition and healthcare products; 9% for toothpaste; 9% for paper. Germany is the largest market, accounting for 24% of total EU consumption. France accounts for 19%, Italy for 12% and the UK for 9%. Between now and 2010, demand is expected to increase by 2-2.5% per annum to reach 400,000-410,000 tonnes (worth $470 M) in 2010. Degussa and Rhodia are the two leading global suppliers of precipitated silica. Degussa has wholly-owned plants in Germany and Spain. It also has a 51% stake in Egesil, the Turkish producer. Rhodia has wholly-owned plants in France, Italy and Spain. Ineos Silicas (of the UK) is one of Europe’s major suppliers of food and dental grades. European Chemical News, 14 Jun 2004, 80 (2104), 16
AUGUST 2004