Raw Material Shortages Continue to Impact Ink Prices
North America has moved from a net importer to a net exporter, a number of suppliers of rosin based materials have decided to focus their efforts away from the graphic arts industry.
Acrylic Acids
Various production problems around the world and increased demand from other industrial applications continue to result in a tight market, rising prices and sales control initiatives from major producers. Styrene, in particular, has seen skyrocketing prices. As a result, the availability of acrylates remains tight as well. Certain specialty methacrylates also are in short supply. Polyamide resins have seen unprecedented raw material increases given competing end-uses of tall oil fatty acids (TOFA). Many supporting chemicals have started to move upward as well.