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Metallic pigments market: the economic downturn has impacted the metallic pigments market due in large part to the ailing auto industry, a major consumer of the pigments.

Article Excerpt
As expected, due to the continued economic downturn, the metallic pigments market has experienced a slowdown in demand. "The overall usage of metallic pigments follows the downward trend of the global economic market in 2009," said Martha Davies, global product manager, effect pigments, Performance Pigments, Sun Chemical. "One of the key market segments--automotive coatings--has been impacted particularly hard. There are other markets, such as the DIY segment, which did not show the same type of market volatility, however, those segments are much smaller and therefore could not offset the overall downturn to the metallic pigments market. We anticipate that the market will begin to stabilize during the remainder of 2009 turning into 2010."

The depression in sales of aluminum pigments that began in the last quarter of 2008 also continues, according to Andrew Edwards, global director of marketing, inks, Silberline. "The global economic slow down is influencing the behavior of the consumer. Uncertainty regarding job security is generating more frugal spending habits.

"While consumer confidence remains low individuals, families and businesses reduce their spending on anything considered a luxury such as a new car, laptop or mobile phone," Edwards continued. "Many of these use aluminum pigments for functional or aesthetic effects and the result is a lower demand for these pigments. The automotive segment, given the volume of pigment used, has been the most severely hit, while...

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