Chemical and Material Shortage Alert – May 2016

The purpose of this blog is to identify chemical and material shortages reported on the Internet.  The sources of the information reported here are primarily news releases issued on the Internet.  The issue period of the news releases is May 2016.

Section I below lists those chemicals and materials that were on the previous month’s Chemical and Material Shortage Alert list and continue to have news releases indicating they are in short supply. Click here to read the April 2016 Chemical and Material Shortage Alert list.

Section II lists the new chemicals and materials (not on the April alert).  Also provided is some explanation for the shortage and geographical information.  This blog attempts to list only actual shortage situations – those shortages that are being experienced during the period covered by the news releases.   Chemicals and materials identified in news releases as only being in danger of being in short supply status are not listed.

Section I.   None

Section II.   Shortages Reported in May not found on the Previous Month’s List

Ethane:  Mexico; supply not keeping up with demand

Low density polyethylene (LDPE):  Russia; production not keeping up with demand

Stainless steel scrap:  global; supply not keeping up with demand

Reasons for Section II shortages can be broadly categorized as: 

1.  Mining not keeping up with demand: none

2.  Production not keeping up with demand: low density polyethylene (LDPE)

3.  Government regulations: none

4.  Sources no longer available: none

5.  Insufficient imports:  none

6.  Supply not keeping up with demand:  ethane; stainless steel scrap