Epoxy

March 4, 2021

Chemline Update

March 3, 2021

As Chemline continues to gather information on the rapidly changing polyurethane raw material market, we remain committed to transparent communication regarding the market challenges facing the entire supply chain.  Upstream feedstock suppliers are slowly beginning to restart facilities, with some Gulf Coast refineries and feedstock suppliers coming back online.  The restart and ramping up of these world-scale facilities takes time.  We are hopeful that the supply chain opens up in April.

Over the last week, Chemline has seen multiple confirmed raw material orders cancelled and more put in question.  No raw material suppliers will confirm orders going forward until there is better visibility on upstream supply.  Chemline’s existing inventories will allow for limited supply over the next few weeks.  We are reviewing incoming orders daily and confirming amounts based on our on-hand raw material inventory.  With the expectation that limited supply will become available in early April, we are pursuing all options to maintain supply through the second half of March including sparing no expense in acquiring raw materials through secondary channels.  Separately, our R&D department is focused on reformulation options based on inventories on hand.

As we look forward to April, supply should begin to normalize but inflationary pressures will create a different set of challenges.  Chemline is already seeing price increase announcements of 30-50% for April 1st across most raw material categories.  Our commitment is to do all possible to keep you supplied through this crisis and for the long term — we will pass along only costs that we cannot absorb, and only on a temporary basis.

Chemline takes very seriously our commitment to supply our customer base reliably and fairly.  All our time and resources are devoted to that commitment.  Thank you for your partnership as we work through this unprecedented challenge.

March 4, 2021

Chemline Update

March 3, 2021

As Chemline continues to gather information on the rapidly changing polyurethane raw material market, we remain committed to transparent communication regarding the market challenges facing the entire supply chain.  Upstream feedstock suppliers are slowly beginning to restart facilities, with some Gulf Coast refineries and feedstock suppliers coming back online.  The restart and ramping up of these world-scale facilities takes time.  We are hopeful that the supply chain opens up in April.

Over the last week, Chemline has seen multiple confirmed raw material orders cancelled and more put in question.  No raw material suppliers will confirm orders going forward until there is better visibility on upstream supply.  Chemline’s existing inventories will allow for limited supply over the next few weeks.  We are reviewing incoming orders daily and confirming amounts based on our on-hand raw material inventory.  With the expectation that limited supply will become available in early April, we are pursuing all options to maintain supply through the second half of March including sparing no expense in acquiring raw materials through secondary channels.  Separately, our R&D department is focused on reformulation options based on inventories on hand.

As we look forward to April, supply should begin to normalize but inflationary pressures will create a different set of challenges.  Chemline is already seeing price increase announcements of 30-50% for April 1st across most raw material categories.  Our commitment is to do all possible to keep you supplied through this crisis and for the long term — we will pass along only costs that we cannot absorb, and only on a temporary basis.

Chemline takes very seriously our commitment to supply our customer base reliably and fairly.  All our time and resources are devoted to that commitment.  Thank you for your partnership as we work through this unprecedented challenge.

March 4, 2021

Time To Get Back To Work

These are the personal thoughts of the blogger and no more . . .

I had the opportunity to have a relatively normal (by car) business trip this week to visit a key supplier. It was a refreshing experience and it is time to encourage everyone to get back to normal, in my opinion.

The travel day was cold but sunny and a four or five hour car trip was involved. However, a stop half way and a normal lunch (masks in and out, but not at the table) was great. Good food and the restaurant was half or a quarter full, but vibrant.

Another few hours to our destination and an hour meeting or so. Check in and a form to fill out for tracing purposes, but just paperwork to my mind.

Sitting in a meeting room and talking about the current difficult situation in the urethane industry. Exploring options that wouldn’t make it to the Zoom discussion (no two second delays). Real empathy between the participants about their current situations, none of which are good.

But a chance to sit face-to-face with people we’ve known for years to figure out solutions.

Followed up by a simple dinner among friends. We still discussed business, but also our personal issues and triumphs and (hopefully) small failures. How we’ve all fared this past year.

Followed up by a few tasks, and a new agenda to help us get through the current shortages and crises.

Then back to a hotel with no restaurant, not even an open front desk. No health club either, and masked guests in all public areas. But great nonetheless.

The next day, it was up with coffee and an apple for breakfast left over from the day before. Some time to catch up on emails. A brisk walk. Then off in the car for the trip home–phone calls the whole way until a lunch break. A great small restaurant recommended. Back to the office late that afternoon. Lots of details to catch up on, calls to reply to, emails to be sent. Another hour or two in the office.

It is time to get back to normal!

March 4, 2021

Time To Get Back To Work

These are the personal thoughts of the blogger and no more . . .

I had the opportunity to have a relatively normal (by car) business trip this week to visit a key supplier. It was a refreshing experience and it is time to encourage everyone to get back to normal, in my opinion.

The travel day was cold but sunny and a four or five hour car trip was involved. However, a stop half way and a normal lunch (masks in and out, but not at the table) was great. Good food and the restaurant was half or a quarter full, but vibrant.

Another few hours to our destination and an hour meeting or so. Check in and a form to fill out for tracing purposes, but just paperwork to my mind.

Sitting in a meeting room and talking about the current difficult situation in the urethane industry. Exploring options that wouldn’t make it to the Zoom discussion (no two second delays). Real empathy between the participants about their current situations, none of which are good.

But a chance to sit face-to-face with people we’ve known for years to figure out solutions.

Followed up by a simple dinner among friends. We still discussed business, but also our personal issues and triumphs and (hopefully) small failures. How we’ve all fared this past year.

Followed up by a few tasks, and a new agenda to help us get through the current shortages and crises.

Then back to a hotel with no restaurant, not even an open front desk. No health club either, and masked guests in all public areas. But great nonetheless.

The next day, it was up with coffee and an apple for breakfast left over from the day before. Some time to catch up on emails. A brisk walk. Then off in the car for the trip home–phone calls the whole way until a lunch break. A great small restaurant recommended. Back to the office late that afternoon. Lots of details to catch up on, calls to reply to, emails to be sent. Another hour or two in the office.

It is time to get back to normal!

March 3, 2021

Cargo Theft Overview

2021 Cargo Theft Report Indicates Strong Need for Cargo Security

TT Club, in a conjoined effort with BSI, released their 2021 Cargo Theft Report, indicating 2020’s yearly recap of cargo theft trends and statistics across the globe.  Here’s an overview of its findings:

*71% of cargo thefts occurred during transit, a 16% decrease from the year before but beyond doubt, still the number on type of cargo theft.  In North America (the US, Canada and Mexico), in-transit thefts hit 74%.

*Storage facilities made up 25% of thefts, an increase YOY, partially due to overflow effects from the COVID crisis and a decrease in security efforts.

*Food and beverages remained the number one type of stolen product, accounting for 31% of all thefts.

*New high-value targets took a spotlight due to the coronavirus outbreak including hand sanitizer, PPE, and face masks. (1)

CargoNet’s 2020 recap throughout the US and Canada noted a 16% increase in cargo thefts over 2019 with a 19% uptick in the average theft value, $166,334. (2)

2021 is expected to be just as difficult as we continue battling and recovering from COVID-19.  As BIS and TT Club’s report note, “In the coming year, disruption and the uneven resumption of international trade resulting from the spread of COVID will continue with imbalances in shipping container distribution that are likely to impact maritime, and through a knock-on effect air cargo capacity throughout 2021.  The added vulnerability of cargo will therefore continue.” (3)

Fortunately, as the report notes, no thefts of the COVID-19 vaccine have been reported yet; however, one can only imagine what would happen if the vaccines were stolen and tampered with, counterfeited, sold on the black market, and injected into the arms of millions…another important reason to increase cargo security measures and properly vet out carriers.

https://roadscholar.com/blog/cargo-theft-report-indicates-strong-need-for-cargo-security