In order to help printers and converters understand why their ink prices may be on the rise, the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) has issued a bulletin that provides insight into the current volatility facing the raw material printing ink market supply chain. The bulletin, sent to NAPIM’s members, reviewed the availability of critical raw materials likely used in the inks that printers’ purchase in all of the major printing processes – lithographic, gravure, flexographic and inkjet. Below are the points addressed in the bulletin.

Availability, driven by capacity and demand from competing regions and industries, remains the determinant on how much product any one manufacturer can obtain and at what cost. Some of the key raw materials causing price increases include: rosin, acrylic acid, carbon black, titanium dioxide, nitrocellulose, crude oil and natural gas, vegetable oils, and colored organic pigments.

Rosin is a major ingredient in resin production. Gum rosin has experienced a nearly threefold increase in price during 2010 and supply remains constrained with very low inventories. The resins produced from rosin are not only used in offset, flexographic and rotogravure printing inks but are also used in adhesives, road markings and rubber.

Numerous production problems around the world and increased demand from other industrial applications have created a taut market that has experienced sales control initiatives from major producers. The cost pressure and supply constraints are expected to continue through 2011. These dynamics cause significant and on-going challenges in the water-based and UV markets.

Reduction in the availability and capacity of carbon black has been seen and lead times have increased significantly. Automotive demand is increasing as well as the demand in several other markets. Two major carbon black suppliers are for sale.

Suppliers ot titanium dioxide are not taking on new business as supply remains tight and inventory levels are very low. Global capacity during the economic downturn was reduced by 15 percent over the past 18 months and there is no indication that investment will be made to accommodate future growth in the industry.

Growing demand for nitrocellulose, coupled with wood pulp production issues and harvest disappointments with cotton linters, have created a difficult situation in 2010 that is not expected to improve in 2011. China has reduced exports to meet internal requirements and some industrial product will be removed from the supply chain when Maxam closes a facility in 2011.

The refining of crude oil and the cracking of natural gas provide many of the precursor chemicals for printing ink raw materials and their intermediates. World oil consumption is expected to grow in China, Brazil and the Middle East, which will sustain the regional competition for products and place the supplier in the advantageous position to sell where the profit is best.

Vegetable oils, primarily linseed and soybean oil, are in a volatile and complex market. Prices are driven by several factors including: the acres planted, harvest yield per acre, weather, exports, value of the dollar, crude petroleum oil prices, bio-diesel production, and commodity prices. Based on these factors, it is expected that for the first half of 2011 prices will remain high versus last year.

Overall colored organic pigment capacity has decreased over the last several years and there is no indication that this will change. The pigment intermediate products derived from the refining of crude oil all continue to increase substantially in price and demand from other industries, which create a competitive situation for printing ink applications.

In 2011, ink manufacturers expect feedstock inflation, tight markets and shortages to continue. Ink manufacturers will likely see an increase in issues related to nitrocellulose, titanium dioxide, and additives, as well as persistence of the issues in rosin resin and some pigments. Oil prices are expected to be higher in 2011 and subjected to high volatility with petrochemicals and oil derivatives following.

The National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers is a trade association tasked to represent the printing ink industry in the United States and provide information and assistance to its members to better manage their businesses. NAPIM provides direction through seminars, conferences, timely bulletins and day-to-day communications.