FEIBP Congress 2025 - Raw Materials Market Reports
Delegates received updates on key raw material markets affecting the brush industry. Each report covered availability, pricing dynamics, and supply developments across principal materials, offering insight into trends shaping procurement and manufacturing. These reports were as follows with links to the slide shows at the bottom of the article:
Synthetic Filaments Market Report 2025 – Andrew McIlroy, Perlon GmbH
Andrew McIlroy of Perlon GmbH, leading German manufacturer of filaments from all the main polymer groups required for use in a wide variety of brush and tool applications, opened his report by remarking upon the stability in plastics pricing over the past 3 years. He had the following to say about factors affecting the end-pricing of synthetic filaments:
Oil
Oil prices have been subject to a decrease of around 8% in the past 12 months, although this has had a minimal effect as a feedstock for polyolefins.
The projected demand for oil for the coming months remains low and, despite interest rate cuts and a recent decision by the OPEC+ group to increase production, prices should remain stable, helping to keep the pricing for PP and LDPE stable at a low level.
Electricity
Good news does seem to be on the horizon for larger industrial users of electricity. Despite an EU-wide plan to subsidise pricing until 2027 which will bring costs down to support manufacturing in the EU, no current plans for assistance are in place beyond this date. The current €90 MwH could half but would still leave prices higher than before the Ukraine war with no long-term plan for lower costs.
Polymer price development
For all the polymers used in the brush industry, the price development is almost identical, with very little change for almost 3 years now. Most raw materials are priced on a monthly basis, and although prices do go up and down in small increments, there has been no sustainable increases or decreases of note. The reason for this remains the lack of overall demand globally – for oil and other feedstocks – which helps to keep pricing stable. We remain of the opinion, that the large chemical companies making raw materials are far from happy with the prices they are able to charge. There have been several rounds of plant closures and site consolidations over the past two years, and the general consensus amongst European manufacturers is that local production is becoming unsustainable.
Whilst we can’t predict the future, common opinion is that this situation is likely to remain unchanged in the coming months.
Fine Hair Market Report 2025 – Mark Samuel, Mark Samuel Trading
Mark Samuel of Mark Samuel Trading Ltd reported no significant change in terms of raw material prices over the last 3 years, as demand for most types of fine hair continues to remain weak.
The demand for high value hairs including kolinsky, weasel and squirrel has been low, despite a decline in prices since their peak 2 to 3 years ago. Prices were expected to fall further, but with low stock levels there hasn’t been too much pressure to slash prices. This is further exacerbated by the fur industry which, in general, has seen overall decline in demand which impacts the availability of the tails from which the hair is sourced.
Chinese governmental restrictions on wild animal trade have enhanced trading difficulties, which has prevented prices for dropping even lower. Recent reports from Russia reflect a similar situation, with kolinsky prices remaining high and the supply of tails and skins limited. The price of red and black Kazan squirrel sourced from Siberia remains high with no foreseeable downward trend.
The price for both farmed and wild badger hair remains stable with a marginal downward trend as more manufacturers move towards the use of synthetic filaments. However, high-quality traditional shaving brushes are still sought after.
With the demand for goat and pony hair having seen a dramatic decline, it is difficult to determine prices; for stock items it is certainly down, but for fresh goods it is unclear due to the closure of many dressing factories.
Ox ear hair sourced from China has remained stable in price for the last 8 to 10 years, and demand for the shorter 35 to 55mm sizes is constant. Longer sizes may see a fall in prices as its traditional market of varnish brush manufacturers in the US moves increasingly towards the use of synthetic alternatives.
Bristle Market Report 2025 – Reinhold Hörz, DKSH
Reinhold Hörz of DKSH, suppliers of top-quality bristles to the brush industry, reported on the trend towards the industrialisation of pig production in China which continues to have a major impact on sourcing. It has become obvious that the traditional source of stiff-haired, mountain-reared Meishan pig is now in short supply with prices for such hair rising. Market tendencies towards a ready-prepared bundle of natural bristle have forced suppliers to blend with “slaughterhouse quality” bristle to prevent prohibitive pricing.
Price development of natural bristle
Taking into consideration this above-mentioned point, the raw hair market prices should rise, but in a rather competitive environment, it's impossible to increase. As a consequence, prices are stable for black bristle between 51mm and 57mm, whilst prices are rising for 89mm and upwards. Middle sizes are rather under pressure due to a declining demand. For white bristle of 51-70 mm, prices are stable, whereas 76mm and up are under pressure.
Demand vs Availability
Black:
38 to 44mm - Strong demand from Inland China
51 to 64mm - Strong demand from Europe and US vs. lack of raw material
64 to 83mm - Rather under pressure
>102mm - Strong demand from Korea, Europe & Japan vs. lack of raw material
White:
38 to 57mm - Demand from Inland China
64 to 89 mm - Rather under pressure
>102mm - Constant demand
Currency
With currency playing an important role in the sourcing of bristle, with the Chinese government’s intentional shift away from reliance foreign currencies, it is becoming more costly, or in some cases impossible, to source in CHF or EUR.
Steel Market Report 2025 – Holger Kruse, Künne Gruppe
Holger Kruse of wire specialists Künne Gruppe of Germany gave the annual update on the steel market, noting that steel production has stabilized recently following the big increases over the period 2000 to 2020. Current annual global steel production remains at a constant, high level of 1.885m tonnes.
The largest regional producer of steel is Asia, with China the biggest single country supplier, whilst European steel production is stable. India and the rest of Asia are ever-increasing.
Different methods of steel production result in different levels of CO₂: traditional BOF (Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace) steel produced using coke produces far more CO₂ than EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) which primarily uses recycled scrap steel and electricity. The ratio of the processes used by region differ greatly. Asia, for example, uses 81% BOF vs 19% DRI-EAF/Scrap-EAF, whereas in Europe, the production methods are more evenly distributed.
The EU exported 1.67m tonnes of finished steel products in 2024, whereas imports (coming mainly from Asia) of the same reached 27.4m tonnes. EU is therefore increasingly becoming a net importer of steel.
Vegetable Fibres Market Report 2025 – Dr. Urte Rietdorf, Friedrich Platt
Dr. Urte Rietdorf of Friedrich Platt GmbH, suppliers of filling materials for brooms and brushes, provided an update on the vegetable fibre market over the last 12 months:
Tampico
Whilst producers are doing their best to keep prices stable, they have been hampered by unpredictable economic situations, with shortages of raw fibre, inflation and transportation costs being the main difficulties. Drought is still affecting availability and quality of supply, and harvest is inconsistent due to a lack of workforce, with the extraction of long fibres proving particularly challenging.
Bahia Piassava
Prices of Bahia Piassava are rising due to various economic pressures and a shrinking workforce. This leads to an increase in production costs and, consequently, raises prices.
Harvested in rural, deep-forest areas, extraction methods can be arduous and, whilst quality maintained constant levels, harvesting and processing times have become longer. Unpredictable weather has also hampered the drying process.
Sherbro
Prices remain at a very low level compared to other fibres and are only rising moderately at most, as production and transport costs are increasing. In the near future, only slight price adjustments are expected as the markets continue to be volatile.
The quality remains constant despite difficult circumstances, and production remains at a low level, with restricted raw material supply and a generally uncertain economic situation.
Palmyra
Prices have largely remained stable and for the near future will presumably remain consistent. However, unpredictable, small price pressures on the raw fibres can lead to difficulties. Trade uncertainties, rising transport costs and increasing labour costs can affect the production costs at any time. Climate changes can also lead to price increases.
Experienced producers are able to keep the quality consistent and ensure a sufficient supply of high-grade materials. The availability of a skilled workforce is also essential, and production and supply are now operating more efficiently and harvesting conditions have improved.
To eliminate varieties in fibres, investments in mechanical cleaning and grading are planned, however large-scale mechanisation is improbable at present.
Precarious climatic periods can affect fibre characteristics also.
In summary, the present situation is stable, with supply and demand balanced. However, demand is slowly rising, and cultivation is increasing which could lead to challenges when demand outstrips the plants’ growth.
Coconut
For coconut, prices have been relatively stable, with 2024 demand reaching fairly high levels. There has been a significant increase in whole coconut market with continued growth potential. Supply is steady and a shortage is not expected at a normal harvest level, although increased demand for other coconut products such as husk chips means less available material for coconut fibre production.
Arenga
There are sufficient Arenga trees in terms of the whole of Indonesia. However, Java is the main processing region and, for harvest regions located too far away, the challenges are workforce recruitment and the high transportation costs to Java.
In addition, climatic conditions continue to be difficult. The fibre cannot be harvested during rainy periods, and the drying is considerably slower as sunlight is needed for proper drying.
Pricing is stable, but the current situation is critical. Exports in 2024-5 have been under pressure which has affected the Arenga price. The domestic Indonesian Arenga price has attained now nearly an equal level compared to export prices.
