The estimates came after the British Coatings Federation (BCF) issued a warning on the growing costs to the ink industry for chemicals, energy and fuel.

The BCF, which represents 25 ink producers in the UK, reported that its members have faced recent price increases of 40% for acrylic acids, 67% for processing solvents and 100% for colour pigment pre-cursors.

The warning from the BCF follows Sun Chemical's announcement of price hikes in its North American markets of 3-7% (PrintWeek, 28 October 2004).

BCF chief executive Moira McMillan warned that free services such as colour management and quality audits would also come under scrutiny.

"Ink manufacturers want to continue the high level of service that UK printers have enjoyed in the past but prices have to relate to costs and extra services are part of that equation," she said.

Shackell Edwards sales and marketing manager Steve Mason said: "If we are to maintain the levels of service our clients have come to expect, then our prices must rise in line with costs."

Avon Joyce, Bousfield technical director, said: "The biggest problem is that we've had seven years without a price rise. Everything's been pushing up and [these recent increases] are really the straw that breaks the camel's back."

"This isn't a case of crying wolf because we want to make more profit, but we're under strain because there's so much competition in the market place keeping prices low, and below cost," he added.

Joyce said that the price hikes in raw materials had been caused by a lack of production of certain materials as well as rises in oil and gas prices.

Story by Josh Brooks