Market Report

1. Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) Market Analysis

• Firm ilmenite, sulfur, and sulfuric acid costs continued to support TiO₂ prices, while some plants faced production pressure due to difficulty sourcing sulfur for captive acid units.
• A new price increase letter of about USD 145/ton reappeared in the market this week, but downstream demand stayed cautious, transaction prices became more differentiated, and the overall market remained firm rather than fully following higher offers.

Product	Price Index (18th Week, 2026)
Anatase	126-133
Rutile	128-135

Price Index Methodology: The Price Index is calculated based on the average prices of the top 10 producers in China, with the base value set at 100 as of January 1, 2026.

2. Titanium Dioxide Pigment Market Trends

• The recent TiO₂ market is still mainly supported by sulfur and sulfuric acid costs, although regional sulfuric acid prices have started to diverge rather than rise in one direction.
• Current sulfuric acid prices are about USD 254–283/ton for 98% smelting acid delivered in Sichuan, USD 349–392/ton for 98% sulfur-based acid ex-works in Sichuan, and USD 196–247/ton for 98% smelting acid ex-works in Shandong.
• Sulfur prices stayed extremely high, with port transactions reaching around USD 1,067/ton, which continued to push up TiO₂ production costs and made sulfur procurement more difficult for some producers.
• Although sulfuric acid prices softened in some southwestern areas as supply recovered, the broader market still remained in a high-level narrow fluctuation range because maintenance cuts and cost pressure offset part of the downside.

3. Market Forecast

• In the short term, the titanium dioxide market is expected to remain firm at high levels, with further increases still possible if raw material pressure intensifies again.
• Cost support remains very strong, but the traditional off-season, distributor inventories, and slower spot shipments may widen price spreads and limit how fast market prices can move higher.
• After May, close attention should be paid to whether export orders are affected by global ocean freight rates or international policy changes, to guard against the risk of a pullback from high levels if export momentum weakens.
• Overall, TiO₂ prices are more likely to stay firm with selective upside than to see a broad decline in the near term.

Market Notice: Due to high market volatility, prices are subject to frequent adjustments. For the most accurate and up-to-the-minute data, please consult info@tinoxchem.de.

• For more reports: TiO₂ Market Report