The shortage of raw materials weighs on the glues, adhesives, sealants and expansive foams sector

Significant shortages of raw materials, characterized by the activation of force majeure clauses, significant price increases and delivery delays by suppliers to the profession, put great pressure on the glues, adhesives, sealants and expansive foams sector. since early 2021.

The profession is still observing an increase in the prices of raw materials, which has the effect of a very strong increase in the cost price of the products of AFICAM members. Many chemical components necessary for the manufacture of the products are concerned:

In just one year, the prices of vinyl and acrylic binders have increased by 15% on average, directly impacting the manufacture of aqueous adhesives.
At the same time, solvent-based and hot-melt adhesives suffered soaring prices for MDI and TDI isocyanates, which rose 42% and 30% respectively.
Oxygenated solvents, for their part, saw their price increase by 44% between the first quarter of 2020 and 2021.
The supply of packaging (metal, plastic, cardboard and wood) is not to be outdone with an average increase of 8% over one year.
These price increases seem to follow an acceleration similar to that of solvents observed in the first quarter of 2021.

These interruptions or severe slowdowns in raw material deliveries disrupt and reduce the industrial production capacities of AFICAM members and therefore their ability to serve users and customers in the sector in quantity and on time. Today, no clear visibility is provided to our members on an improvement in the situation in the short term.

For several months, the industrial members of AFICAM have been doing everything possible to keep their commitments, avoid sales at a loss, continue to deliver to customers in the best conditions, especially since the context of the pandemic of Covid19 has already weakened the sector.

According to Jérôme des Buttes, President of AFICAM, “It is important that the entire sector, from upstream to downstream, can quickly benefit from real visibility on the resolution of this crisis. In the long term, we must collectively build the best possible response, industrial or logistical, to organize better independence for access to our main raw materials. This will allow our sector to continue to be a source of innovation and creator of local jobs. ”