Aluminium shortage might soon affect underwater housing prices
It is an irony with an iron source! While new camera models hit the street and digital technology advances to introduce more affordable DSLR cameras, underwater housing prices might increase over the next month. At least for high class underwater housings made from aluminium. If you take a look at the stock market the price index for aluminium has nearly doubled during 2006.
After a long-time peak in May prices fell back to a level 1.5 times as high as the average mark during 2005. So far we have not heard of any price changes with manufacturers such as Seacam, Subal, Hugyfot, Sealux, UK-GERMANY and Aquatica but this might change as soon they have consumed existing stocks. In Germany these changes might even go along with an increase of the VAT by three percent. All this leads to one conclusion: If you are out for a bargain, the latest chance to upgrade to a new digital SLR system for underwater photography or hd-video should be this Christmas.
Related links
- Preisauftrieb für Aluminium könnte bis 2008 anhalten (Quelle: FAZ)
- Larger Version of the upper price chart
I’ll doubt that the price of aluminum will affect the housing-price.
If the camera housing weight is about 4kg and aluminum costs about 2 euro/kg then if the price goes up 100% the cost would be 8 euros extra….
Would that make you buy a plastic instead??
/Martin
Hi Martin,
thanks for your critic comment.
I still hold my statement for the following reasons:
1st: Housing manufacturers will most likely not pay the price on the stock market that was listed above, with the little they use they have to go through distributors and face higher prices
2nd: The index and sourroundeing infos just explain a general supply problem. That can lead to not getting aluminium at all when you are a small (housing manufacturing) company
3rd: Not getting housings out on time because of no aluminium will lead to less available housings and that is a good reason for manufacturers to raise their prices.
We'll see what happens.
I am exited to find out.
