David Savastano, Editor04.15.21
The past few months have seen a lot of pressure on prices, supply and transportation, primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The printing ink industry is known for being reluctant to raise prices except when under pressure. However, as can be seen in the announcements in Fresh Ink, which begins on page 8, price increases have already been implemented, and there is reason to believe more are coming.
Interestingly, the first announcement came from the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA). These were quickly followed by statements from the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM), CEPE, Sun Chemical, Flint Group, Siegwerk, Doneck Network and others.
There are plenty of raw materials involved. Crude oil supply is leading to tightening of petrochemicals, a key feedstock in many ink ingredients. TiO2 and other pigments are a concern. So are vegetable oils, due largely to weather conditions.
EuPIA said “the increased cost of pigment raw materials, tightening upstream petrochemical supply chains, cost increases for vegetable oil derivatives and dramatically increased freight costs – due to the reduced availability of containers – are highlights of a myriad of destabilizing factors. ”
“The printing ink industry in North America is facing unprecedented challenges in raw material feedstocks, supplies and freight,” NAPIM executive director John Copeland noted. “Virtually all raw material families for the printing ink industry, including oil, energy curable, solvent, and water-based systems, have been greatly impacted.”
Transportation is another issue entirely. I’ve talked with executives who tell me that they can’t get their products off of containers, while other containers are stranded in ports.
A few ink companies have formally announced price increases. Sun Chemical increased prices across a range of products, including packaging and commercial sheetfed inks, coatings, and adhesives, in North America and Latin America. Flint Group Packaging and Flint Group Commercial, Publication and Sheetfed Inks (CPS) reported their own price increases.
The combination of pricing and supply pressures as well as the transportation issues are not going to be alleviated anytime soon. The ink industry and its suppliers are doing what they can, and will continue to work together with their customers to try to solve these issues as quickly as possible.
Interestingly, the first announcement came from the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA). These were quickly followed by statements from the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM), CEPE, Sun Chemical, Flint Group, Siegwerk, Doneck Network and others.
There are plenty of raw materials involved. Crude oil supply is leading to tightening of petrochemicals, a key feedstock in many ink ingredients. TiO2 and other pigments are a concern. So are vegetable oils, due largely to weather conditions.
EuPIA said “the increased cost of pigment raw materials, tightening upstream petrochemical supply chains, cost increases for vegetable oil derivatives and dramatically increased freight costs – due to the reduced availability of containers – are highlights of a myriad of destabilizing factors. ”
“The printing ink industry in North America is facing unprecedented challenges in raw material feedstocks, supplies and freight,” NAPIM executive director John Copeland noted. “Virtually all raw material families for the printing ink industry, including oil, energy curable, solvent, and water-based systems, have been greatly impacted.”
Transportation is another issue entirely. I’ve talked with executives who tell me that they can’t get their products off of containers, while other containers are stranded in ports.
A few ink companies have formally announced price increases. Sun Chemical increased prices across a range of products, including packaging and commercial sheetfed inks, coatings, and adhesives, in North America and Latin America. Flint Group Packaging and Flint Group Commercial, Publication and Sheetfed Inks (CPS) reported their own price increases.
The combination of pricing and supply pressures as well as the transportation issues are not going to be alleviated anytime soon. The ink industry and its suppliers are doing what they can, and will continue to work together with their customers to try to solve these issues as quickly as possible.
