After a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the paints, inks and artists’ colors industry is once again facing serious challenges in 2021 due to the rise in raw material prices. There are several reasons for the increase, including the growth in demand for raw materials caused by the anticipated economic recovery, a shortage of raw materials as a result of bad weather conditions and the closure of several plants, which has led suppliers of raw materials to invoke force majeure. In addition, transportation costs are on the rise following the sharp increase in oil prices.
Cost drivers
“The burden on the industry is immense, because raw materials account for more than half of its costs. Since January last year, the price of key components such as epoxy resins has risen by 60 % in Europe. The situation is similar for solvents, with the cost of acetone and n-butyl acetate alone rising by 123 % and 91 % respectively.” The current situation is caused mainly by events in Europe and Asia and, in particular, the unexpectedly rapid V-shaped recovery in China which is fueling demand for essential raw materials. In addition to epoxy resins, the list of petrochemical raw materials that are in demand includes polyester resins, polypropylene glycols, acrylic acids, acrylic resins, UV resins, polyurethane resins and solvents. Alongside petrochemical raw materials, pigment raw materials (including titanium dioxide and red and yellow iron oxide) have also seen sharp increases in costs throughout the world. The key drivers of these increases include high levels of demand across all industries, greater domestic supply requirements in producing countries, generic supply and demand imbalances and higher pigment component costs. The situation has been exacerbated by capacity issues. Disruptions at producers in Asia and Europe – either due to factory closures or plant accidents – have significantly reduced supplies. Another cost factor is the shortage of transportation.
The complete article was published in IST 02/2021.
Autor(en): CEPE European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink, and Artist’s Colours Industry
