David Savastano, Editor09.21.20
In recent years, ink industry purchasing executives have had to cope with a range of concerns, from titanium dioxide in 2017, photoinitiators and their precursors in 2018, and pigments such as Pigment Yellow 74 in 2019. On top of that, there was a trade war brewing between the US and China.
However, nothing could have prepared purchasing executives for the COVID-19 pandemic. The human toll alone – more than 850,000 deaths worldwide, 180,000 deaths in the US alone – is devastating. The attempts to slow down the pandemic led to shutdowns of industries and a completely new way of life for many people. Eventually, COVID-19 will be brought under control, but in many ways, everyday life has changed; for example, people are getting used to staying in, creating increasing demand for food packaging and inks.
For purchasing executives of ink companies, getting key ingredients became more difficult and more expensive. China shut down its production, causing shortages in pigments, intermediates and many other essential raw materials. Ingredients like isopropyl alcohol (IPA), crucial for some solvents, became scarce as IPA was being rerouted to hand sanitizers. Transportation was a serious concern.
While some ingredients have stabilized, others have not. In “COVID-19 and the Raw Material Market,” which begins on page 20, leading purchasing executives discuss what their companies went through, and what challenges remain going forward as the world tries to develop a cure.
As I mentioned above, China’s government effectively shut down its country in early 2020 to get a handle on COVID-19. In “China’s Ink Market Recovers from Impact of COVID-19,” ink manufacturers in China were affected by this decision, although they report that things are returning to normal.
The September/October issue features Ink World’s annual Buyers’ Guide, the most comprehensive listing of raw materials, equipment and services, distributors and trade associations for the international printing ink industry. In addition to our issue, our annual Buyers’ Guide is available online at www.inkworldmagazine.com. We hope you find it very helpful!
However, nothing could have prepared purchasing executives for the COVID-19 pandemic. The human toll alone – more than 850,000 deaths worldwide, 180,000 deaths in the US alone – is devastating. The attempts to slow down the pandemic led to shutdowns of industries and a completely new way of life for many people. Eventually, COVID-19 will be brought under control, but in many ways, everyday life has changed; for example, people are getting used to staying in, creating increasing demand for food packaging and inks.
For purchasing executives of ink companies, getting key ingredients became more difficult and more expensive. China shut down its production, causing shortages in pigments, intermediates and many other essential raw materials. Ingredients like isopropyl alcohol (IPA), crucial for some solvents, became scarce as IPA was being rerouted to hand sanitizers. Transportation was a serious concern.
While some ingredients have stabilized, others have not. In “COVID-19 and the Raw Material Market,” which begins on page 20, leading purchasing executives discuss what their companies went through, and what challenges remain going forward as the world tries to develop a cure.
As I mentioned above, China’s government effectively shut down its country in early 2020 to get a handle on COVID-19. In “China’s Ink Market Recovers from Impact of COVID-19,” ink manufacturers in China were affected by this decision, although they report that things are returning to normal.
The September/October issue features Ink World’s annual Buyers’ Guide, the most comprehensive listing of raw materials, equipment and services, distributors and trade associations for the international printing ink industry. In addition to our issue, our annual Buyers’ Guide is available online at www.inkworldmagazine.com. We hope you find it very helpful!
