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Pigments represent 50% of French inkmakers' manufacturing costs
F O C US materials, such as wood, glass, metal and paper. Of the world total, Europe (including all the EU, plus Norway and Switzerland) contributed 61 M tonnes, North America contributed 58 M tonnes and China contributed 35.5 M tonnes. For many applications, fillers and pigments are mixed with the base polymer resin to improve the appearance and/or performance of the final plastic product. About 15.5 M tonnes of ground calcium carbonate (GCC) was consumed in plastics processing in 2007. This included applications in plastic film, sheets, fibres, moulding, thermosets, pipes, profiles and flexible PVC. Global talc consumption in plastics is also significant, running at 900,000-950,000 tonnes/y. This includes 160,000-170,000 tonnes/y of talc in the EU and a similar quantity in the US. Kaolin, wollastonite, barytes are also often used for specific purposes by the plastics companies. Industrial Minerals, Nov 2008, (494), 58-67
Pigments represent 50% of French inkmakers’ manufacturing costs A survey of the French printing inks industry notes that pigments typically represent 50% of the unit manufacturing cost of printing inks. France currently produces about 100,000 tonnes/y of printing inks, of which 62% for the graphic arts sector and 38% for the packaging sector. France is the fourth largest producer in Europe, after Germany (260,000 tonnes/y); United Kingdom (160,000 tonnes/y); and Italy (130,000 tonnes/y). The French industry employs about 1700 people, with manufacturers generating a combined total sales revenue of about €330 M and annual investment running at a remarkably high €82.5 M, representing 25% of turnover. Notable inkmakers in France include: Brancher, Dubuit, Flint, Huber, INX/Sakata, Radium Bronze, Siegwerk and Sun/DIC. Imports make up a substantial portion of the French printing ink industry’s pigment requirements. Twothirds of the industry’s imports (by value) are accounted for by Chinese suppliers. Regulations on Chinese factories were strictly enforced during 2008, especially in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games, and as many as 3000 Chinese factories were
APRIL 2009
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closed, creating supply uncertainties and driving up prices. The average unit cost of Chinese pigments purchased by French inkmakers increased by 17% during 2008. The cost of other materials also increased sharply during 2008 – vegetable oils by more than 50%, mineral oils by 40% and various resins and additives by about 8-10%.
The most important natural food colours are: annato (derived from achiote tree-seeds); anthocyanins (derived from berries); betanin (exbeetroot); chlorophyll (ex-spinach and other leaf vegetables); carmine (excochineal); carotenoids; curcumin (exturmeric); riboflavin (ex-egg yolk); and melanoidins (ex-caramel). Chemical Weekly, 27 Jan 2009, 54 (24), 133
Double Liaison, Dec 2008, 6 (566), 6-8 (in French)
Ukrainian TiO2 output passes the 125,000 tonnes/y mark Ukrainian TiO2 pigment production reached 125,940 tonnes in full-year 2008. Clearly, there was a sharp downturn during the final quarter of the year. For the first nine months, production was 101,907 tonnes, which would have meant an annual equivalent of 135,900 tonnes by simple extrapolation. However, in October 2008, Krymsky Titan cut back its production by 2.5% to 7516 tonnes, while Sumy Khimprom cut back its production by 45% to 1988 tonnes. The country’s total TiO2 pigment output was only just over 24,000 tonnes in 4Q 2008. Still, both producers are continuing with their expansion programmes, with Krymsky Titan planning to have 120,000 tonnes/y in place next year, while Sumy Khimprom is raising its capacity to 50,000 tonnes/y. Other full-year 2008 production figures were reported as: 1.479 M tonnes of sulfuric acid; 81,600 tonnes of hydrochloric acid; 977,900 tonnes of soda ash; 154,555 tonnes of acetic acid; 29,289 tonnes of adipic acid; and 43,082 tonnes of caprolactam. RCCnews, 1 Dec 2008 & 26 Jan 2009, (Website: http://www.rccnews.ru/eng)
Over $50 M will be spent on natural food colours in India & the Middle East There are strong negative perceptions of synthetic food colorants in India and in the Middle East, which should favour the uptake of “natural food colours.” According to a recent Frost & Sullivan report, spending on natural food colours in 2008 amounted to $19.5 M in India and $17.1 M in the Middle East. Spending is forecast to rise to $26.1 M and $26.0 M respectively by 2014.
Japanese TiO2 producers saw 11% drop in sales volume in 2008 Data assembled by the Japan Titanium Dioxide Association (JTDA) for the year to end-December 2008 shows a drop in production of 9%. This was contributed by four companies – Ishihara Sangyo, Tayca, Sakai Chemical and Titan Kogyo. At 224,503 tonnes, this meant that capacity utilisation was just under 72% for the year as a whole. Production had been reduced in line with falling sales, but production still exceeded sales, with the result that about 6000 tonnes of TiO2 was added to pigment manufacturers’ inventories. Overall shipments by Japanese manufacturers fell for the fourth year in succession. Exports fell by 18% from 83,650 tonnes in 2007 to 68,593 tonnes in 2008. Shipments to the Japanese market fell by 11% from 160,436 tonnes to 149,778 tonnes. Month-by-month declines in export volumes were witnessed onwards from April 2008. Month-by-month declines in domestic shipments were witnessed onwards from July 2008. Japan: TiO2 Pigment Data & % change, vs 2007 (‘000 tonnes, 2008) Production Total shipments Exports Domestic Electroceramics Inks* Paint Paper Plastics Rubber Textiles Other
224.5 218.4 68.6 149.8 0.9 34.2 69.1 9.8 16.1 1.7 3.0 14.9
-9% -11% -18% -7% -29% -3% -7% -3% -12% -11% -1% -8%
* TiO2 shipments to DIC, Toyo, Sakata and other ink-makers include TiO2 used for pigment pastes & blends. Source: JTDA
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Pigments represent 50% of French inkmakers’ manufacturing costs A survey of the French printing inks industry notes that pigments typically represent 50% of the unit manufacturing cost of printing inks. France currently produces about 100,000 tonnes/y of printing inks, of which 62% for the graphic arts sector and 38% for the packaging sector. France is the fourth largest producer in Europe, after Germany (260,000 tonnes/y); United Kingdom (160,000 tonnes/y); and Italy (130,000 tonnes/y). The French industry employs about 1700 people, with manufacturers generating a combined total sales revenue of about €330 M and annual investment running at a remarkably high €82.5 M, representing 25% of turnover. Notable inkmakers in France include: Brancher, Dubuit, Flint, Huber, INX/Sakata, Radium Bronze, Siegwerk and Sun/DIC. Imports make up a substantial portion of the French printing ink industry’s pigment requirements. Twothirds of the industry’s imports (by value) are accounted for by Chinese suppliers. Regulations on Chinese factories were strictly enforced during 2008, especially in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games, and as many as 3000 Chinese factories were
APRIL 2009
O N
PIGMENTS
closed, creating supply uncertainties and driving up prices. The average unit cost of Chinese pigments purchased by French inkmakers increased by 17% during 2008. The cost of other materials also increased sharply during 2008 – vegetable oils by more than 50%, mineral oils by 40% and various resins and additives by about 8-10%.
The most important natural food colours are: annato (derived from achiote tree-seeds); anthocyanins (derived from berries); betanin (exbeetroot); chlorophyll (ex-spinach and other leaf vegetables); carmine (excochineal); carotenoids; curcumin (exturmeric); riboflavin (ex-egg yolk); and melanoidins (ex-caramel). Chemical Weekly, 27 Jan 2009, 54 (24), 133
Double Liaison, Dec 2008, 6 (566), 6-8 (in French)
Ukrainian TiO2 output passes the 125,000 tonnes/y mark Ukrainian TiO2 pigment production reached 125,940 tonnes in full-year 2008. Clearly, there was a sharp downturn during the final quarter of the year. For the first nine months, production was 101,907 tonnes, which would have meant an annual equivalent of 135,900 tonnes by simple extrapolation. However, in October 2008, Krymsky Titan cut back its production by 2.5% to 7516 tonnes, while Sumy Khimprom cut back its production by 45% to 1988 tonnes. The country’s total TiO2 pigment output was only just over 24,000 tonnes in 4Q 2008. Still, both producers are continuing with their expansion programmes, with Krymsky Titan planning to have 120,000 tonnes/y in place next year, while Sumy Khimprom is raising its capacity to 50,000 tonnes/y. Other full-year 2008 production figures were reported as: 1.479 M tonnes of sulfuric acid; 81,600 tonnes of hydrochloric acid; 977,900 tonnes of soda ash; 154,555 tonnes of acetic acid; 29,289 tonnes of adipic acid; and 43,082 tonnes of caprolactam. RCCnews, 1 Dec 2008 & 26 Jan 2009, (Website: http://www.rccnews.ru/eng)
Over $50 M will be spent on natural food colours in India & the Middle East There are strong negative perceptions of synthetic food colorants in India and in the Middle East, which should favour the uptake of “natural food colours.” According to a recent Frost & Sullivan report, spending on natural food colours in 2008 amounted to $19.5 M in India and $17.1 M in the Middle East. Spending is forecast to rise to $26.1 M and $26.0 M respectively by 2014.
Japanese TiO2 producers saw 11% drop in sales volume in 2008 Data assembled by the Japan Titanium Dioxide Association (JTDA) for the year to end-December 2008 shows a drop in production of 9%. This was contributed by four companies – Ishihara Sangyo, Tayca, Sakai Chemical and Titan Kogyo. At 224,503 tonnes, this meant that capacity utilisation was just under 72% for the year as a whole. Production had been reduced in line with falling sales, but production still exceeded sales, with the result that about 6000 tonnes of TiO2 was added to pigment manufacturers’ inventories. Overall shipments by Japanese manufacturers fell for the fourth year in succession. Exports fell by 18% from 83,650 tonnes in 2007 to 68,593 tonnes in 2008. Shipments to the Japanese market fell by 11% from 160,436 tonnes to 149,778 tonnes. Month-by-month declines in export volumes were witnessed onwards from April 2008. Month-by-month declines in domestic shipments were witnessed onwards from July 2008. Japan: TiO2 Pigment Data & % change, vs 2007 (‘000 tonnes, 2008) Production Total shipments Exports Domestic Electroceramics Inks* Paint Paper Plastics Rubber Textiles Other
224.5 218.4 68.6 149.8 0.9 34.2 69.1 9.8 16.1 1.7 3.0 14.9
-9% -11% -18% -7% -29% -3% -7% -3% -12% -11% -1% -8%
* TiO2 shipments to DIC, Toyo, Sakata and other ink-makers include TiO2 used for pigment pastes & blends. Source: JTDA
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