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Titanium Dioxide Enters Third Round of Price Hikes, Sulfuric Acid & Titanium Ore Indicate Market Trends
21 Mar 2025
Titanium Dioxide Enters Third Round of Price Hikes, Sulfuric Acid & Titanium Ore Indicate Market Trends
Keywords
Recently, Chinese titanium dioxide (TiO₂) producers, including Shandong Dongjia and Ningbo Xinfu, announced price hikes, raising domestic prices by RMB 500/ton and international prices by USD 70/ton. Market speculation suggests that leading Chinese TiO₂ producers may announce further increases, with smaller firms awaiting their move.
Raw Material Surge Driving Cost Pressure
The titanium dioxide market is under upward cost pressure, fueled by rising raw material prices—particularly sulfur, sulfuric acid, and titanium ore:
1. Sulfuric Acid:
1) Sulfur prices remain strong, while pyrite-based sulfuric acid has seen significant price increases, providing firm cost support.
2) Prices for 98% smelting acid in Hubei range between RMB 600-650/ton, up RMB 50-100/ton from the previous week.
3) 98% ore-based acid in Guangdong is now at RMB 590-630/ton, marking an RMB 80-140/ton increase.
4) Production shutdowns in Anhui and Guangxi, along with planned maintenance in Hubei, have further tightened supply.
2. Titanium Ore:
1) Prices are steadily rising, with 46% TiO₂ concentrate from Panzhihua at RMB 2,080-2,150/ton and 45% TiO₂ concentrate from Chengde at RMB 1,650-1,700/ton.
2) Imported ores are also increasing, with 46% TiO₂ ore from Mozambique at USD 2,300-2,350/ton and 49% TiO₂ ore from Nigeria at USD 2,250-2,300/ton.
Titanium Dioxide Market Trends & Challenges
Following equipment maintenance in early 2024, production capacity utilization has rebounded, yet high raw material costs continue to drive price increases.
Impact of Anti-Dumping Tariffs
1) The EU and India imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese titanium dioxide earlier this year.
2) Despite a USD 50-100/ton price increase in January-February 2024, it falls short of the EU’s additional EUR 250-750/ton anti-dumping duties.
3) This suggests a high probability of further price hikes in response to trade restrictions.
Balancing Costs & Demand
1) While March and April are traditionally peak seasons for TiO₂ sales ("Golden March, Silver April"), demand remains weaker than expected.
2) The tug-of-war between cost-driven price hikes and sluggish demand is shaping market dynamics.
As sulfur, sulfuric acid, and titanium ore continue their upward trajectory, titanium dioxide producers remain under cost pressure, with further price hikes likely in the near term.
Disclaimer: Blooming reserves the right of final explanation and
revision for all the information.