clipping
benefitstoourcustomers. Inaddition, it’sworthpointingoutthat
intimesofcrisis,reducingcostsbecomesfundamental,andinalow
value-addedmarket likemineralfillers,achievingsuch reduction is
arealchallenge.”
According to Lamil’s technical salesmanager Kensley Alves de
Oliveira, the futureof themineral filler industry isuncertain in the
short-term.“Majorindustries,suchaspaintsandcoatings,ceramics
andrubber,dependexclusivelyontheautomotiveandconstruction
industries.Andthetwoofthese industrieshavegroundtoahalt in
Brazil. As yet, nopositive signshave come from thegovernment
for these industries,whichdependoncredit. Since thesemarkets
are currentlyparalyzed, sales ofmineral fillers haveplummeted.
Mineralfillersareanindustrythatdependsonvolumetosurvive,and
wealreadyseeapricewaramongsuppliersofmineral fillers. This
storywillendwithbusinessesclosingdowndueto lackofworking
capital, and thosewhodo survivewill haveno choiceother than
increasingprices inordertooffset losses,otherwisethey’llendup
closingdown,too,”hewarns.
ForEnockFilho,ofMineraçãoSantaRosa’ssalesdepartment,there
isapromising future forthe industry.“Webelievethesecondhalf
willbebetterfortheentiremanufacturingsector.Thedifficultiesare
thesametoanyandallbusinesseswithoperationsinBrazil,including
momentarylacksofconfidencethatleadtosomedecrease in
consumption.Weareexpectingandworking for growthof
around15percentoverthevolumesweachievedfor2014.”
MinériosOuroBranco’ssalesdirectorJoséCarlosBartholi,for
hispart,thinksthemarketplacewillseeanumberofmergers
andacquisitions. “Companies tend tobeabsorbed inorder
to increaseefficiency, reduceoperating costs and improve
product synergies andapplications.Wemay seeanewma-
rketrestructuringcycle,withnewplayersandnewcorporate
structures.”
Theremayalsobeachangeinthewaythemarketthinksabout
mineralfillers,accordingtoOmyz’ssalesmanagerFábioStrano.
“Modifiednaturalcalciumcarbonateisusednotonlyasafiller
inseveralapplications,butalso inmorespecificones,suchas
adhesives,sealantsandtitaniumdioxideextenders,thusgoing
intoformulationsasspecialtychemicals.”
Slurry - Specialty and Tailor-Made Product
Innovations
Themarket for slurrieshas evolveda lot in thepast several
years. The innovations developedby slurry suppliers have
intensifiedwith focuson tailor-madeandhigh-performance
