Chemicals

India - Fertiliser demand to jump 5% 

Source: Asia Pulse, 21 June 2010

India's state-run Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers forecast over 5% jump in fertiliser demand this season. Primarily, it is the prospect of a good monsoon, which will result in a better consumption by the farm sector, RCF chairman and managing director US Jha said. Jha said there will be no further increase in the price of urea despite a surge in gas prices.

The price of urea were increased by 10% in April this year, while the rates of speciality and complex fertilisers were decontrolled under the new nutrient-based subsidy regime. On the subject of phosphatic fertilisers, Jha said their rates have been increased recently and there would not be any further rise soon, especially because its manufacturing is not energy-intensive.

China - Water-based paint market picking up

Source: PR Newswire (U.S.), 24 June 2010

With further improvement of environmental regulations, there has been a gradual increase in consumer awareness of environmental protection and a high degree of attention on health. Water-based paint research and development has been on the increase, with many enterprises launching their own water-based paint products. These paints maintain their allure and popularity with an environmental protection and health angle.

In Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities, more and more consumers are tending to choose water-based paints for decoration purposes. Many consumers who use water-based paint now favour it, making water-based paint figure widely in the home decoration arena. It is foreseeable that in the near future, the water-based paint market is expected to keep pace with oil paints, and may even become the mainstay on the home decoration stage.

New Zealand - Fertiliser trade faces volatility

Source: New Zealand Press Association, 24 June 2010

According to fertiliser experts, volatility is the new reality in the fertiliser trade because of unpredictable international raw material costs, and changes in New Zealand dollar exchange rates and dry bulk shipping rates. Inventory planning for the spring season was well under way, but instability in the global marketplace had changed the way key fertiliser industry players worked, with a shift from purchasing in larger quantities, to buying smaller amounts more often.

The unstable global financial climate would continue to cause unpredictable price fluctuations in fertiliser commodity markets, despite a good outlook for agriculture. But the fertiliser market was optimistic about demand recovering in the year ahead. There were still market fluctuations but without the dramatic swings in prices experienced in 2008 and 2009.

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