Kodak Announces Price Increases for Film

This is not unexpected - silver is trading at a 23-year high and that has got to affect all the industries that use it. I would expect to see similar announcements from all the remaining film manufacturers in coming days. Like when fuel price increases force airline tickets to go up. Same deal.

Best,

Wiggy

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/departments/technology/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002345150

Kodak Hikes Prices for Plates, Film

By E&P Staff

Published: April 17, 2006 12:15 PM ET

NEW YORK Kodak's Graphic Communications Group announced today a double-digit worldwide price increase for prepress consumables.

The company attributed the increase to several years of "consistently rising energy and raw material costs." Price hikes affect digital and conventional offset printing plates, proofing media, film and chemistry.

Customers are being informed of pricing details on a country-by-country basis.

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Good afternoon Wigwam Jones,

The Kodak Graphic Communications Group is the division involved in the printing and graphic arts industries. After some recent company acquisitions, including a very prominent one in Creo, they are now one of the largest suppliers in that industry. Basically, the purchase of Creo and one other companies products vaulted them into the top four of this industry. They could easily use almost any reasoning to justify higher prices, since their customers would have little choice of other companies to go towards. All the other competing companies in this industry also have similar pricing.

Now if this does eventually mean an increase in consumer imaging films prices, that might be a different situation. However, I think Fuji would have to increase prices at nearly the same point, since I doubt Kodak want to lose any more market share. We shall see . . . . . . .

I think in the short to long run, anyone who does commercial printing or publishing might see higher prices. This could actually hurt the magazine and book publishers a little.

Ciao!

Gordon

I believe that this is what Kodak was saying - that they are raising prices. I fail to see how that actually means they are not raising prices.

Best,

Wiggy

No surprise here. Energy costs will drive prices of everything up. If you can't increase your income you have to prioritze and cut corners. My kids are the most costly items in my house. I think cutting out a few meals each month should more then make up for both Kodak's and Ilford's price increases.

I would rather see Kodak raise prices on their products, than see them discontinue their products.

Wigwam Jones said:

I believe that this is what Kodak was saying - that they are raising prices. I fail to see how that actually means they are not raising prices.

Best,

Wiggy

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The film the are discussing raising prices on is not the type you would be putting into a camera. The particular group and products they mention in the release are only for the commercial press printing industry. This has nothing to do with consumer products. Now they might have another release in the future about raising prices on Ektachrome, colour negative films, or even TMax and TriX, but I think it is early to speculate on that.

The only consumer film products with structures and manufacturing somewhat like printing industry products are their B/W films, though even with those the chemicals involved are different.

Sorry if I created any confusion in my post. I work in the printing industry, and I am a commercial photographer. I have regular contact with their printing industry materials, mostly from my prior association with Creo, whom Kodak recently bought. So yes, Kodak is raising prices, just not on anything most consumers would be buying.

Ciao!

Gordon

HerrBremerhaven said:

The film the are discussing raising prices on is not the type you would be putting into a camera. The particular group and products they mention in the release are only for the commercial press printing industry. This has nothing to do with consumer products. Now they might have another release in the future about raising prices on Ektachrome, colour negative films, or even TMax and TriX, but I think it is early to speculate on that.

The only consumer film products with structures and manufacturing somewhat like printing industry products are their B/W films, though even with those the chemicals involved are different.

Sorry if I created any confusion in my post. I work in the printing industry, and I am a commercial photographer. I have regular contact with their printing industry materials, mostly from my prior association with Creo, whom Kodak recently bought. So yes, Kodak is raising prices, just not on anything most consumers would be buying.

Ciao!

Gordon

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Actually, there are a number of news releases that specifically do mention that Kodak has announced they are raising the price of pro and consumer grade photographic film and motion picture film.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-04-17-kodak-prices_x.htm?POE=TECISVA

Posted 4/17/2006 9:25 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Eastman Kodak Monday said it plans to increase prices for its consumer, professional and movie films, citing the rising cost of raw materials such as silver.

In addition, Kodak, which is undergoing a tough transition to digital products such as cameras and printing as demand for traditional film wanes, said it would set double-digit price increases for commercial print supplies.

Price increases for consumer and professional films will range from 3% to 17%, while increases on selected motion picture films will range from 3% to 5%. The new prices structure will be implemented after May 1.

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Frankly, I think that means what it says it means.

Maybe I just don't have an appreciation of the nuances of the industry.

Smooches,

Wiggy

Here's the link to the correct press release directly from Kodak announcing the price increase for their films:
Press release.

Thanks Gabe and Wiggy,

Those other articles make more sense. Kodak is involved in several industries, not just in selling films for consumers or motion picture production. Hence some confusion with the original article about their Graphic Communications Division. Frankly, if you look at the recent price changes in silver, it is not really surprising. We might even tie this into a few others threads here, namely the one about some cameras being discontinued due to the use of lead solder. With countries moving to ban lead, and heavy usage in electronics, the next best choice would be silver solder.

Maybe we could adopt a new mantra: film photography, not just another precious metal.

Ciao!

Gordon