Flint Group imposes North American ink surcharge as pigment costs surge

NORTH AMERICA – Flint Group Packaging Solutions will raise prices across its entire packaging inks and coatings portfolio in the United States and Canada on 14 December 2026, as pigment shortages in China and elevated energy costs compress margins across the printing supply chain.

The company attributed the increases to raw material capacity shortages across Asia, particularly China, where safety initiatives have constrained production and driven significant price spikes for pigments. 

This supply shock coincides with high crude oil prices that continue to inflate procurement expenditure for petrochemical precursors, including additives, resins and solvents. 

Elevated energy tariffs and ocean freight rates have further compounded production and logistical expenses, leaving manufacturers unable to absorb costs through internal efficiencies.

Converters Face Margin Pressure and Contract Renegotiation

The price rise spans the entire packaging inks and coatings portfolio, affecting converters producing flexible packaging, labels, folding cartons and corrugated board. 

Because inks and coatings represent a significant portion of variable costs in printing operations, sustained increases force converters to renegotiate supply agreements with brand owners or accept margin compression. 

The mid-December effective date provides roughly six weeks for customers to adjust production budgets and pricing structures before the new terms take effect.

Leadership Emphasises Transparent Cost Justification

Nicki Kerrigan, vice-president of sales and service for Flint Group North America, said the company recognised the impact price adjustments had on customers and had carefully considered the decision. 

She added that the company understood the importance of clear communication on pricing, noting that teams would provide details and key data points to support discussions with customers about the increase. 

Providing documented cost drivers allows converters to justify price changes to brand owners and make informed procurement decisions.

Heritage Spans a Century of Ink Manufacturing

Flint Group was formed in late 2005 through the combination of Flint Ink Corporation and XSYS Print Solutions. 

The constituent businesses carry deep industry roots: XSYS was established in 2004 when print suppliers ANI and BASF Printing Systems merged, while Flint Ink traces its origins to a 1920 founding in the United States. 

The company serves narrow web, paper and board, publishing and flexible packaging industries across conventional and digital printing platforms. 

The latest adjustment reflects broader inflationary pressure across the printing supply chain, where ink manufacturers face simultaneous increases in pigment, resin, solvent and freight costs that cannot be offset through operational improvements alone, particularly as supply disruptions in Asia limit alternative sourcing options.

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