A frank view on the hydrocarbon supply disruption and how we are responding

James Clews
Managing Director, Technikraft
April 2026

If you buy, formulate or manufacture chemical products, you are likely already feeling the effects of recent hydrocarbon market disruption.

What began as a supply issue affecting specific solvent markets has now developed into something broader, with impacts being felt across raw materials, packaging and logistics. While many customers may already have received recent updates from us on market conditions and pricing, I wanted to step back and share the wider picture of what is happening across the market and how we are responding.

How the disruption developed

The first signs of pressure emerged earlier this year, with refinery-related supply constraints affecting availability of certain hydrocarbon streams used in industrial solvents.

That position then worsened in March as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East created wider uncertainty across global energy and shipping markets. As volatility increased, the impact moved beyond solvents alone and into the wider chemical supply chain.

Initially, many businesses experienced this as a solvent issue. Today, the impact is much wider than that. 

We have seen:

• Initial sharp increases on certain solvent grades of up to 200%, with pricing now sustained at significantly elevated levels

• Polymer cost increases affecting plastic packaging

• Fuel-driven inflation feeding into freight and transport costs

• Upward pressure on a wider range of chemical raw materials

This is why many manufacturers are now facing cost movement from multiple directions at once.

Why price is only part of the issue

Rising costs are challenging enough, but the greater operational issue is often uncertainty.

When markets move quickly, quoting windows shorten, supplier validity periods tighten, and lead times can change with little notice. Materials available one week may need reassessment the next.

For manufacturers and brand owners trying to plan production, launches or promotions, that uncertainty can be as disruptive as the price increases themselves.

Businesses heavily reliant on short-term spot purchasing are likely to be feeling conditions most acutely.

What Technikraft is doing

Securing supply continuity

Technikraft has invested for years in long-term supplier relationships, dependable sourcing routes and committed purchasing volumes.

Preparation matters most in periods like this.

It has helped us maintain continuity of key materials while wider markets have tightened, allowing us to keep production moving and continue supporting customer demand.

Managing pricing responsibly

Our priority is maintaining supply continuity while responding fairly and proportionately to market cost changes.

That means using a combination of targeted price adjustments and temporary surcharges where appropriate, depending on product type, input exposure and customer arrangements.

Where short-term market volatility eases, we would expect temporary measures to be reviewed accordingly. Where movements appear more structural, we will discuss those openly and in advance.

Working directly with customers

Our account managers are already speaking with affected customers to review forward orders, production schedules and any specific product exposure.

Where adjustments are needed, early dialogue gives the best opportunity to plan effectively and minimise disruption.

Why supply continuity matters now

During constrained markets, supply resilience becomes commercially critical.

A £1 spend at the start of the supply chain can represent £10 or more of finished product value by the time goods reach the retail shelf. That multiplier is why continuity at the manufacturing stage matters so much. Disruption upstream can create disproportionate consequences downstream. 

The businesses that navigate periods like this best are usually those that stay close to their supply chain, act early, and work collaboratively with trusted partners.

In summary

The hydrocarbon market disruption is real, fast-moving and now affecting more than solvents alone. Packaging, freight and broader raw material costs are all part of the picture.

Technikraft has secured continuity through established supplier relationships and will continue working closely with customers to manage supply and pricing responsibly.

Whether you are an existing customer planning forward demand, or a brand reviewing manufacturing partners, periods like this often highlight the value of strong supply relationships and dependable manufacturing capability.

If you would like to discuss your specific products, forward orders or sourcing strategy, we would be happy to have that conversation.