Newsletter - May

Market Updates

Shipping/Container rates continue to escalate and are expected go higher based on spot market rates, availability of slots on vessels, and insatiable demand for ocean transport. Spot rates are extremely volatile and increases are announced on a daily basis.
-Hapag-Lloyd rocks already hard-hit transpac shippers with a $3,000 GRI - The Loadstar

TiO2 supply restrictions have been seen from all manufacturers due to increased demand and the ongoing issues with ocean freight availability.

Significant increases in various commodities are continuing to drive key feed stocks higher supporting inflationary concerns (see Commodity report link below; e.g. Crude Oil, Soybean Oil, Palm Oil, Zinc, Methanol, Beef Tallow, Coconut Oil, Copper)

Demand for building materials continues to impact lumber rates and availability with increases as high as 30-40% for reconditioned shipping pallets. Contributing effects are increases in fasteners (steel), availability of lumber from outside the United States, and reduction in saw-mill capacity during COVID.
-Producer Price Index by Commodity: Lumber and Wood Products: Wood Pallets and Pallet Containers, Wood and Metal Combination (WPU08410101) | FRED | St. Louis Fed (stlouisfed.org)

CASE Newsletter - May

XIRAN Styrene Maleic Anydride (SMA) Copolymers

Polyscope is the global leader in research, product development, production, and supply of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers and aqueous solutions in a large range of molecular weight and maleic anhydride content. The broad range of maleic anhydride content and random character of the SMA resin provide the copolymers excellent properties such as transparent appearance, high heat resistance, high dimensional stability, and the specific reactivity of the anhydride group. XIRAN neat resins and aqueous solutions are especially relevant where key maleic anhydride functionalities such as improved adhesion and compatibility, cross-linkability, dispersibility, and improved hydrophobicity are required. The anhydride groups provide the freedom to chemically modify the polymer to steer to optimal performance for customers’ formulation.

Typical applications where XIRAN Resins work to boost performance are adhesives, industrial coatings, over print varnishes, printing inks, emulsions, and pigment dispersants. In powder coating applications, XIRAN resins offer the additional benefit of surface matting.

Polyscope Product Info

CASE Newsletter - May

Supply issues? - Extend TiO2 with Sodium Alumina Silicate in Paints & Coatings

Madhu Silica Pvt. Ltd. is the largest manufacturer of Precipitated Silica in India and third largest producer in the world. MSPL manufactures more than 50 different grades of Silica’s catering to a wide array of industries and different applications.

Synthetic Sodium Alumina Silicate: The MASIL product line is used for Partial replacement of TiO2 in emulsion Paints. This gives a significant cost advantage against TiO2 and partially can replace between 15–20% with SAS grades.
• Improvement in opacity and hiding properties
• Better sheen control and improved whiteness
• Improved film properties such as enhanced scrub resistance, scratch and stain resistance
• Available in various particle sizes and pH ranges

Available grades: MASIL (Alkaline pH), MASIL ‐7 (Neutral pH), MASIL‐723, MASIL (8.0 microns), MASIL‐7 (8.0 microns)

Also available from Madhu is a full line of treated and untreated matting agents:

Organic treated (wax) grades: PoySIL‐MCT4, PolySIL‐MCT6, PolySIL‐MCT8 & PolySIL‐MC52
Untreated grades: PolySIL‐MC44, PolySIL‐MC3, PolySil‐MC5

Madhu Product Info

CASE Newsletter - May

DEGALAN LP 64/12 – The Universal Methacrylate Bead Polymer

Degalan LP 64/12 is a versatile binder for the manufacture of weather-resistant, light fast and chemical-resistant metal coatings, marine and container coatings, primers, impregnations, exterior house paints and concrete coatings.

• Easy to use and formulate
• Broad compatibility
• Excellent adhesion on multiple substrates
• Stability towards hydrolysis
• Outstanding weather resistance

Röhm is a leading supplier of methacrylate chemicals worldwide, produces their world-renowned Degalan LP 64/12 resin at their production facilities in Wesseling, Germany & Shanghai, China, and supplies to customers worldwide. Click here for more information on the full product range of Degalan Methacrylate Resins.

Rohm Product Info

Commodities Report

See the Latest Market Data

Barentz' monthly Commodities Report tracks select raw materials and currencies allowing you to gain a better understanding of some of the key cost drivers in our industry.

2024-December-Commodities-Report