At ACHEMA 2012, thermal oil manufacturers confirmed a global shortage of high-temperature synthetic oils for heat transfer. Increased demand has seen prices soar and supply squeezed for the remainder of 2012 and throughout 2013, according thermal oil specialist Global Heat Transfer, Staffordshire, UK.

Factors driving the demand include:
• Projects put on hold during the global financial crisis, which are now being built-out.
• Solar farms, which have taken
much of the world production of thermal fluids.
• Increased demand from users of thermal fluids, who have consumed their reserves.

These combined circumstances have created the shortage, says Global Heat Transfer. However, some heat transfer fluid companies, including Global Heat Transfer, have the fluid stock to mitigate any current shortages.