Four or Five Waves of Posted Pigment Price Rises Over the Past 10 Months

摘要

For European markets, there were three waves of posted price increases during 2009 and there have been another two so far during 2010. On 5 May 2009, Kronos posted a euro uros 75 per tonne increase, effective 1 June 2009. Ten days later, DuPont posted a euro uros 50 per tonne increase, effective 1 July. Tronox, Cristal and Huntsman took the same cautious approach as DuPont. On 15 July, Huntsman launched the second wave, posting a euro uros 100 per tonne rise, effective 1 August. This lead was followed by Kronos, Tronox, Cristal and DuPont within two weeks. The third wave of price rises was initiated by DuPont on 23 September, posting a euro uros 100 per tonne rise, effective 1 October. Kronos and Huntsman followed suit within seven days. On 17 December, Cristal posted a euro uros 100 per tonne increase, effective 1 January 2010. Huntsman followed suit on 14 January, adding that it was raising prices on $US-denominated sales in Europe by $US 150 per tonne. On 17 February, DuPont posted price increases, effective as from 1 March: euro uros 100 or $US 150 per tonne. On 22 and 25 February, Kronos and Tronox respectively posted similar rises, though Tronox declared that its price rises would not be implemented until 1 April 2010.