The pigments supply-demand rollercoaster of the last three years shows few signs of slowing down. In wide-ranging markets from construction to plastics, and automobiles to ceramics, pigment producers throughout the world are waiting with baited breath for their respective governments’ fiscal policies.
Several resulting factors of the global financial crisis have impacted demand for inorganic pigments, particularly a dearth of new construction projects and a significant drop in automobile sales. While both markets consume vast amounts of paint, the stagnation of construction markets has resulted in knock-on negative effects for ceramics, paper and roofing materials, while the decline in automobile markets has also hit plastics producers.
“All pigment markets, and primarily the construction related ones, are still suffering from the economic downturn,” Tom Henderson, EVP sales and marketing for pigments group Prince Minerals, told IM. “There are modest signs of recovery but it is fragile and seasonal at best.”...