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Natural magnesium minerals as flame retardant additives
F O C US
O N
PIGMENTS
of €8 per kilo for deliveries of all bismuth vanadate pigments and pigment preparations containing bismuth vanadate. The escalating free market price of vanadium was cited as the main factor prompting this action.
chemicals delivered to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, effective as from 10 June 2005. The company points out that although measures to improve productivity are ongoing, they cannot compensate for higher raw material costs.
Press Release from: BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, Website: http://media.basf.com (20 Jun 2005)
Press Release from: Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel, Switzerland, Website: http://www.cibasc.com (9 Jun 2005)
Indian barytes price jumps by $10 to $37-39 per tonne
Natural magnesium minerals as flame retardant additives
The Andrea Pradesh Mineral Development Corp, which controls one of the largest barytes sources in India, recently held a tender, which indicated a sharp upturn in export prices, from $27-32 per tonne in May 2005 to $37-39 per tonne in July. Correspondingly, import prices for API lump barytes, cif US Gulf Coast, have increased from $68-70 per tonne to $72-74 per tonne.
World consumption of flame retardants is currently of the order of 500,000 tonnes/y, with alumina trihydrate (ATH) accounting for about 90% of the total. There is increasing interest in the suitability of natural magnesium minerals – brucite, huntite and hydromagnesite – as potential substitutes for ATH, especially in highvalue niche applications. China is the major source of mined brucite (essentially magnesium hydroxide), the majority of which is exported to Europe and North America. Imports of Chinese brucite into North America are currently just under 20,000 tonnes/y and they are supplemented by indigenous brucite. Huntite and hydromagnesite (essentially hydrated magnesium carbonates) are mined in Greece and Turkey. Greek production of huntite was estimated at 23,600 tonnes for 2001.
Industrial Minerals, Jul 2005, (454), 67
Cabot & Wolstenholme cite crude oil cost upsurge when raising their prices Cabot has announced price increases for its masterbatch products, effective as from 1 June 2005, in order to partially recoup the substantial rises in the costs of raw materials, stemming ultimately from a sustained upsurge in the price of crude oil. Cabot’s prices will increase by €70 per tonne for all shipments of masterbatches (Plasblak, Plaswhite, Plasgrey, Plasadd and Rainbow). Cabot is also raising the price of its Cabelec conductive compounds by €40 per tonne. High prices for crude oil were also cited as the major factor behind Wolstenholme’s recently posted price increases of 4% for its water-based carbon black pigment dispersions and 6% for its oil-based carbon black pigment dispersions. The increases will take effect as from 1 July 2005. Press Release from: Cabot SA/NV, Interleuvenlaan 15, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium, Tel: +32 (0)1639 2400 (31 May 2005) & Ink Maker, Jun 2005, 83 (5), 8
Industrial Minerals, Jun 2005, (453), 41-47
Imerys forecasts 0.5-1.0% per annum growth in global kaolin demand Imerys is forecasting growth in world kaolin consumption of 0.5-1.0% per annum over the next five years. The company acknowledges that calcium carbonate (ground and precipitated grades) will account for most of the growth in mineral pigments and fillers consumption in the paper industry, but it highlights an increased requirement for glossing clays due to the installation of a number of coated woodfree paper machines in China. Industrial Minerals, Jul 2005, (454), 67
Ciba raises prices of textile colorants by up to 10% Ciba has announced selective increases of up to 10% in the prices of textile colorants and auxiliary
4
Global spending on carotenoids to pass $1 bn mark by 2009 According to a recent study by Business Communications Inc, global
spending on commercial carotenoids is currently assessed at $887 M. The market is growing at 3% per annum, so spending should pass the $1 bn mark by 2009. Carotenoids are primarily used as food colorants with nutritional benefits, though they are often skilfully marketed as nutritional additives that also happen to impart colour! Certainly, the antioxidant properties of beta-carotene have been a major factor promoting its popularity. World spending on beta-carotene has increased from $30 M in 1999 to $242 M in 2004. BASF and DSM are the major players in the beta-carotene market. Lutein is promoted for its role in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration. World spending on lutein has increased from $64 M in 1999 to $139 M in 2004. Astaxanthin and canthaxanthin are reddish-pink carotenoid pigments which are widely used in fish farms, promoting healthy-looking pink flesh in salmon, crabs and lobsters. Chemical Market Reporter, 4/11 Jul 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
US carbon black capacity is 15% higher than consumption According to ‘CMR’, carbon black capacity in the US is currently 3.7 M tonnes/y. Cabot remains the market leader, with a 25% share of total installed capacity. Following the merger, Degussa Engineered Carbons (DEC) is now close behind, with a 24% share. Besides DEC, the only other foreign-owned producer is Continental Carbon, which is part of the China Synthetic Rubber (CSC) group (headquartered in Taiwan). US carbon black consumption in 2004 was assessed at 3.143 M tonnes. Tyres and tyre tread US: Carbon Black Capacity (‘000 tonnes/y, mid-2005) Total United States Cabot Degussa Engineered Carbons Sid Richardson CSR/Continental Carbon Columbian
3697 912 898 676 608 603
Source: CMR, 20 Jun 2005
AUGUST 2005
O N
PIGMENTS
of €8 per kilo for deliveries of all bismuth vanadate pigments and pigment preparations containing bismuth vanadate. The escalating free market price of vanadium was cited as the main factor prompting this action.
chemicals delivered to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, effective as from 10 June 2005. The company points out that although measures to improve productivity are ongoing, they cannot compensate for higher raw material costs.
Press Release from: BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, Website: http://media.basf.com (20 Jun 2005)
Press Release from: Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel, Switzerland, Website: http://www.cibasc.com (9 Jun 2005)
Indian barytes price jumps by $10 to $37-39 per tonne
Natural magnesium minerals as flame retardant additives
The Andrea Pradesh Mineral Development Corp, which controls one of the largest barytes sources in India, recently held a tender, which indicated a sharp upturn in export prices, from $27-32 per tonne in May 2005 to $37-39 per tonne in July. Correspondingly, import prices for API lump barytes, cif US Gulf Coast, have increased from $68-70 per tonne to $72-74 per tonne.
World consumption of flame retardants is currently of the order of 500,000 tonnes/y, with alumina trihydrate (ATH) accounting for about 90% of the total. There is increasing interest in the suitability of natural magnesium minerals – brucite, huntite and hydromagnesite – as potential substitutes for ATH, especially in highvalue niche applications. China is the major source of mined brucite (essentially magnesium hydroxide), the majority of which is exported to Europe and North America. Imports of Chinese brucite into North America are currently just under 20,000 tonnes/y and they are supplemented by indigenous brucite. Huntite and hydromagnesite (essentially hydrated magnesium carbonates) are mined in Greece and Turkey. Greek production of huntite was estimated at 23,600 tonnes for 2001.
Industrial Minerals, Jul 2005, (454), 67
Cabot & Wolstenholme cite crude oil cost upsurge when raising their prices Cabot has announced price increases for its masterbatch products, effective as from 1 June 2005, in order to partially recoup the substantial rises in the costs of raw materials, stemming ultimately from a sustained upsurge in the price of crude oil. Cabot’s prices will increase by €70 per tonne for all shipments of masterbatches (Plasblak, Plaswhite, Plasgrey, Plasadd and Rainbow). Cabot is also raising the price of its Cabelec conductive compounds by €40 per tonne. High prices for crude oil were also cited as the major factor behind Wolstenholme’s recently posted price increases of 4% for its water-based carbon black pigment dispersions and 6% for its oil-based carbon black pigment dispersions. The increases will take effect as from 1 July 2005. Press Release from: Cabot SA/NV, Interleuvenlaan 15, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium, Tel: +32 (0)1639 2400 (31 May 2005) & Ink Maker, Jun 2005, 83 (5), 8
Industrial Minerals, Jun 2005, (453), 41-47
Imerys forecasts 0.5-1.0% per annum growth in global kaolin demand Imerys is forecasting growth in world kaolin consumption of 0.5-1.0% per annum over the next five years. The company acknowledges that calcium carbonate (ground and precipitated grades) will account for most of the growth in mineral pigments and fillers consumption in the paper industry, but it highlights an increased requirement for glossing clays due to the installation of a number of coated woodfree paper machines in China. Industrial Minerals, Jul 2005, (454), 67
Ciba raises prices of textile colorants by up to 10% Ciba has announced selective increases of up to 10% in the prices of textile colorants and auxiliary
4
Global spending on carotenoids to pass $1 bn mark by 2009 According to a recent study by Business Communications Inc, global
spending on commercial carotenoids is currently assessed at $887 M. The market is growing at 3% per annum, so spending should pass the $1 bn mark by 2009. Carotenoids are primarily used as food colorants with nutritional benefits, though they are often skilfully marketed as nutritional additives that also happen to impart colour! Certainly, the antioxidant properties of beta-carotene have been a major factor promoting its popularity. World spending on beta-carotene has increased from $30 M in 1999 to $242 M in 2004. BASF and DSM are the major players in the beta-carotene market. Lutein is promoted for its role in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration. World spending on lutein has increased from $64 M in 1999 to $139 M in 2004. Astaxanthin and canthaxanthin are reddish-pink carotenoid pigments which are widely used in fish farms, promoting healthy-looking pink flesh in salmon, crabs and lobsters. Chemical Market Reporter, 4/11 Jul 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
US carbon black capacity is 15% higher than consumption According to ‘CMR’, carbon black capacity in the US is currently 3.7 M tonnes/y. Cabot remains the market leader, with a 25% share of total installed capacity. Following the merger, Degussa Engineered Carbons (DEC) is now close behind, with a 24% share. Besides DEC, the only other foreign-owned producer is Continental Carbon, which is part of the China Synthetic Rubber (CSC) group (headquartered in Taiwan). US carbon black consumption in 2004 was assessed at 3.143 M tonnes. Tyres and tyre tread US: Carbon Black Capacity (‘000 tonnes/y, mid-2005) Total United States Cabot Degussa Engineered Carbons Sid Richardson CSR/Continental Carbon Columbian
3697 912 898 676 608 603
Source: CMR, 20 Jun 2005
AUGUST 2005