MARKETSAlbemarle increases ATH prices by upto 15%

Albemarle has posted global priceincreases of up to 15% for all itsspeciality alumina products, effectiveon all shipments made on or after 1January 2008, or as soon as allowedunder specific contracts. Productsaffected include: Martinal aluminatrihydrate (ATH) flame retardants andMartifin speciality alumina pigments.

Press Release from: Albemarle Corp, 451 FloridaStreet, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, USA (30 Nov 2007)

Kaolin prices raised by Imerys & Huber

In mid-October, Imerys announcedthat it would be increasing its pricesfor kaolin pigments and calcinedkaolin grades by an average 12% ona global basis, while prices of filler-grade kaolin products would beincreased by 3%. All these increaseswere due to take effect as from 1December 2007. Cost increases inprocessing chemicals, logistics,energy and fuel, as well as in generalmining costs were cited by Imerys asfactors behind its move.

About six weeks later, HuberEngineered Materials announcedprice rises of around 8% for itshydrous and calcined kaolin pigmentssupplied to papermakers, effective 1January 2008. Huber added thatthese price rises will not replace theenergy surcharge programme, whichremains in place, remindingcustomers of the supplier’s right toadd surcharges to listed prices inorder to cover unexpectedly highenergy costs.

Press Release from: Huber Engineered Materials,4401 Northside Parkway (Suite 600), Atlanta, GA30327, USA, Website: www.huberemd.com (3 Dec2007) & Chemical Week, 24 Oct 2007, 37 (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

TiO2 price rises posted for Asia/Pacificfor 1Q 2008

DuPont is leading another round ofposted price increases for customersin the Asia/Pacific region, followingthe success of earlier price hikes –$100 per tonne for 3Q 2007,announced on 4 June, and $100 pertonne for 4Q 2007, announced on 14September. (See also ‘Focus on

Pigments’, Nov 2007, 3-4). The latestannouncement is for an increase of$150 per tonne, scheduled to takeeffect as from 15 January 2008. Forthe first time, DuPont has posted aseparate price increase for Chinesecustomers – RMB Yuan 1.50 per kilo(equivalent to $203 per tonne, at anexchange rate of RMB Yuan 7.4 per $). Tronox promptly followed suit,but the other major suppliers seem tobe hesitating.

Press Releases from: DuPont Titanium Technologies,Wilmington, DE 19880-0036, USA (26 Nov 2007) &Tronox, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-7109, USA (6 Dec2007)

Ferro raises prices on colourconcentrates for plastics processors

The Engineered Polymer Productsdivision of Ferro Corp has increasedits prices for colour concentratessupplied to plastics processors inNorth America, effective 1 November2007. The increases were: $0.05 perpound for white, $0.08 per pound forblack and other colours. At the sametime, Ferro declared that it would beraising its prices for plastic compoundsby $0.035-0.06 per pound, dependingon resin content, effective 15 Nov.

Press Release from: Ferro Corp, 1000 LakesideAvenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 1147, USA, Website:http://www.ferro.com (6 Nov 2007)

US reviews anti-dumping duties oncarbazole violet

The US Department of Commerce(USDC) has issued a new ruling inrespect of carbazole violet, known asPigment Violet 23, imported fromChina. The USDC had investigatedthe pricing of carbazole violetimported from China in response tocomplaints filed in November 2003 byNation Ford Chemical and SunChemical. It discovered that importsfrom China had doubled in volumefrom 163,620 kilos in 2001 to 336,350kilos in 2003, while the averageimport value had dropped from $19per kilo to $12.55 per kilo. Anti-dumping orders were issued across-the-board. Later, in order todemonstrate fair and consistenttreatment of all suppliers, the USDCimposed anti-dumping duties atdifferent rates for different Chinesesuppliers, eg 12.46% for GoldlinkIndustries, 85.41% for Nantong HaidiChemicals, effective as from 30

March 2007. (See ‘Focus onPigments’, May 2007, 3).

These rates of duty were subject toreview. Under the latest ruling, theUSDC has rescinded its review for allsuppliers except one, meaning that theanti-dumping duties will remain in placeat the rates determined in March for:Goldlink Industries, Nantong HaidiChemicals, Aesthetic ColorTech(Shanghai), Anhui Worldbest Import &Export Co, Cidic, Ganguink Group,Hunan Sunlogistics, Hygeia-Chem(Shanghai), Pudong Prime InternationalLogistics, Shanghai Rainbow DyesImport & Export Co, Sinocol Corp andYangcheng Tiacheng Chemical. AUSDC review of the rate of anti-dumping duty for carbazole violetsupplied by Trust Chem Co Ltd –currently 39.29% – will proceed asplanned, with preliminary resultsscheduled for publication by 11December 2007. The USDC is alsoreviewing the anti-dumping dutieslevied on Indian suppliers.

Federal Register, 25 Jun 2007, 72 (121), 34670-34671& 24 Aug 2007, 72 (164), 48615 & 16 Oct 2007, 72(199), 58639-58640 (Website:http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html)

Romania’s paint production set forrapid expansion

Romania, together with its neighbourBulgaria, became full members of theEuropean Union with effect from 1January 2007. As with other formerCommunist countries in EasternEurope, the benefits of free tradewithin the EU are expected tostimulate a rapid increase inRomania’s industrial production and inits average consumer livingstandards. Romania’s per capita paintconsumption is currently only 3 kilos,compared against the EU average of15 kilos. Romania’s paint productionincreased by 15% in 2006 to reach150,000 tonnes and a furthersignificant increase is anticipated for2007/08. The country’s majorpaintmakers are: Kober, Fabryo andPolicolor. Fabryo is nearingcompletion of a new 91,250 tonnes/ypaint factory, while Kober hasannounced a €12 M investment in anew 120,000 tonnes/y paint factory.Policolor, which claims a currentmarket share of 15%, is also planningto increase its paint production.

ICIS Chemical Business, 29 Oct 2007, 272 (16), 21(Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)

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