Market Report
1. Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) Market Analysis
- China’s titanium dioxide market remained stable this week, with prices holding firm amid seasonally weakening demand ahead of the Lunar New Year.
- Downstream buyers have largely completed pre-holiday stocking, leading to cautious spot purchasing and slower transaction volumes.
- Despite subdued trading activity, producer inventories remain relatively low, providing solid downside support to current price levels.
- Rising production costs, particularly sulfuric acid price increases, further reinforced producers’ price discipline.
| Product | Price Range (USD/MT) | Change vs Last Week |
|---|---|---|
| Rutile-grade TiO₂ (incl. tax) | $1,970 – $2,050 | Stable |
| Anatase-grade TiO₂ (incl. tax) | $1,800 – $1,890 | Stable |
2. Titanium Dioxide Pigment Market Trends
- Domestic supply contraction accelerated. Jinpu Titanium announced the suspension of its Xuzhou TiO₂ facility (annual capacity: 80,000 MT), citing persistent operating losses and financial pressure, significantly reducing effective supply.
- Permanent capacity exit confirmed. Tronox officially announced the permanent closure of its Fuzhou TiO₂ pigment plant following a review of its global asset footprint, reflecting prolonged market downturn, oversupply, and unsustainable pricing levels.
- European capacity recovery remains gradual. Sol Tiox completed the acquisition of the former Venator Italy plant in Scarlino and plans to invest €35–40 million to upgrade production lines. Although production is expected to resume progressively, short-term supply impact remains limited.
- Production costs continue to rise. Sulfuric acid prices increased again this week, with Panzhihua reaching approximately $147/MT, and further hikes are expected by this weekend or early next week, significantly lifting sulfate-route TiO₂ production costs.
- Combined supply tightening and cost escalation have strengthened producers’ pricing discipline, reinforcing short-term market stability.
3. Market Forecast
- TiO₂ prices are expected to remain firm in the near term, supported by domestic capacity contraction and rising sulfuric acid costs.
- Post-holiday demand recovery may provide incremental support, while high cost levels limit downside price risk.
- Overall, the market is entering a phase of structural rebalancing, with tighter supply and elevated costs forming a solid price floor.
- For more reports: TiO₂ Market Report
