The price of silage wrap is set to rise by up to €20 per roll this season as a result of widespread shortage in the raw materials required by manufacturers, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

“Butene, hexane, and octane are byproducts of the petrochemical industry and are the raw materials used to make silage wrap,” Durapak Agri’s Seamus O’Callaghan said.

“With the aviation industry grounded and the demand for oil down, these raw materials needed for silage wrap production are in short supply. Factories are fighting for the very little product that is out there.” Manufacturers report that raw materials are up by 50% in cost.

“This presents a scarcity of film this silage season and for what product is available it will be very expensive, between €95 and €100/roll – up more than €20/roll on last year,” O’Callaghan continued.

“May could see huge variations in price, by up to €30. By June, all the old stock will be gone and we’ll be into the higher prices then. In all my years I’ve never seen such scarcity for the raw materials and the impact this will have on prices.”

Plastics supplier Sean O’Connor told the Irish Farmers Journal that plastic supply will be tight in the first half of the silage season.

“Rising crude oil prices, aviation grounded and volatility caused by Brexit are all contributing to this price rise.

“Prices will increase significantly for plastic and netting, up more than 12% on last year. Orders have to be made early this year to ensure we get the material off suppliers in the UK and EU.”

Agricultural merchants from around the country quoted the Irish Farmers Journal prices from as low as €77/roll in the northeast to €89/roll in the southeast.

While many merchants have yet to release their final price sheet for the 2021 season, most are expecting at least a €10/roll increase on last year.