Titanium Dioxide Industry Perspective Weekly-2024-07-26 to 2024-08-02 - Tinox Chemie GmbH, Your TiO2 specialist from Dusseldorf Germany

Market Report

1. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Market Analysis

The market for titanium ore (ilmenite) remains tight, with small and medium manufacturers pricing 46%-10% ilmenite at $307-$311 per ton, and 47%-20% ilmenite at $338-$353 per ton. Prices for 38% titanium ore (excluding tax) are around $221-$225 per ton. Supply remains tight, and prices are expected to remain stable due to high production costs and supply constraints.
Imported titanium ore prices are stable, with Mozambique titanium ore at $368 per ton and Kenyan 47%-49% grade ore at $362 per ton. Despite high downstream production costs and limited supply, the market for imported titanium ore remains firm.
The high titanium slag market is under pressure, with prices for high titanium slag around $804-$812 per ton. Production costs are high due to expensive raw materials, and despite weak downstream prices, the high titanium slag market is expected to remain weak.
The titanium tetrachloride market is stable, with current prices around $870-$940 per ton. Though liquid chlorine prices have dropped, high raw material costs keep titanium tetrachloride prices near the cost line.

The titanium dioxide pigment market remains stable. Current prices for Chinese rutile titanium dioxide are around $2095-$2289 per ton, and anatase titanium dioxide is around $1957-$2013 per ton. High raw material costs provide strong support for titanium dioxide prices, despite production pressures.
Some enterprises in Southwest China are undergoing maintenance and have temporarily stopped production, while others maintain stable operations. The market is balanced, but terminal market demand remains weak, and some enterprises report difficulty in selling products compared to previous periods. Increased supply compared to last year adds pressure on prices, leading to negotiations on a case-by-case basis.