SKC, the largest producer of PET films in the world has recently announced that they were converting a couple of production lines that produced the PET film gauge used in thermal transfer ribbon to producing PET for solar panels. As you would expect, the market did not take kindly to the news. Several manufacturers of thermal transfer ribbons have had their base raw material supply chain cut or reduced, and it has thrown the market into a frenzy. Several ribbon suppliers have announced increases, and other suppliers have told the market that they will not have product to supply for the next few months as they scramble to find new PET film suppliers.

The best strategy to take in these market conditions is to purchase as many ribbons as practical while they are available, and before any new price increases.