A recent explosion at Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical in China is severely impacting the global raw material supply chain. The disruption includes materials used in publication and UV printing inks.
The March explosion at Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical spread to adjacent facilities, causing nearly 80 deaths. Hundreds of people were injured forcing thousands to evacuate nearby areas. The Chinese government forced shut-downs at the industrial park, as well as others nearby, to allow investigations and safety inspections.
“Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those hurt or killed,” said Michael Podd, chief procurement officer of Flint Group’s CPS Inks business.
Arno de Groot, vice president procurement for Flint Group Packaging said, “Thousands of factories are already been shut down. Government investigations and safety inspections will impact the total chemical industry in China and will not be limited to the province where the catastrophic accident happened.”
The impact has reached UV and publication printing ink supply chains, as the closures affect companies that supply materials for photoinitiators and for red and yellow pigments.
Podd noted that the raw material shortage will not affect ink supply for Flint Group’s customers. “Our preferred status with our partner suppliers helps us minimize supply chain disruptions, even during unforeseen crises like this one.”
He added, “Our customers can rely on us for an uninterrupted supply of inks. Now these raw materials will come at a higher cost due to the supply/demand imbalance this event has caused.”
The dates for reopening of the shuttered raw material facilities remain unknown.
