1. Price Overview
The domestic titanium dioxide market saw generally downward price momentum in August with obvious market divergence. Actual transactions are mostly concluded on a case‑by‑case basis.
Sulfate‑process Rutile TiO₂
The benchmark price from 360TJS stood at RMB 14,480/ton on Aug 21, down 2.03% month‑on‑month.
Negotiation range (tax‑included delivery): RMB 12,800‑14,700/ton. Major producers maintain high listed prices. Low‑priced goods enjoy active trading while high‑priced products face heavy shipment pressure.
Anatase TiO₂
Trading range: RMB 12,300‑12,800/ton. Demand remains weak and purchases are mainly for rigid consumption.
Chloride‑process TiO₂
High‑end weather‑resistant grades: RMB 16,000‑18,000/ton. Against surging sulfuric acid prices, chloride‑process products show growing cost advantages and command premium pricing among high‑end coating and plastic customers.
Market features: High‑priced supplies face inventory build‑up; low‑priced sources enjoy sufficient order backlog with lead‑time up to 2 weeks. Traders compete for orders, resulting in chaotic market quotations.
2. Supply Side
Domestic production facilities operate at relatively high utilization rates with sporadic unit maintenance. Factory inventory varies widely across manufacturers, ranging from half‑month to one‑month output. Producers selling at low prices hold lean inventory, while those sticking to high prices accumulate stock.
Industry update: Longbai Group restarted its Hartlepool plant in the UK on Aug 18. Full production is expected in early 2027 to realize local supply in Europe and strengthen its global layout for chloride‑process titanium dioxide.
Raw material costs: Sulfuric acid prices rose sharply, imposing substantial cost pressure on sulfate‑process producers and limiting further price drops of TiO₂. Titanium ore imports reached 3.276 million tons from Jan‑Jul, up 12.24% year‑on‑year. Raw material supply is sufficient yet costs remain high.
3. Demand Side
Downstream sectors including coatings, inks, plastics and paper‑making maintain only rigid‑demand purchasing. The traditional peak season “Golden September & Silver October” has not kicked off yet. End‑users mostly consume existing stock with low willingness for active restocking, leading to thin market trading activity.
Export performance: July exports stood at 144,000 tons, down 22.07% month‑on‑month. Cumulative exports from Jan‑Jul hit 1.213 million tons, up 15.36% year‑on‑year. Exports remain a key market support despite July’s short‑term decline.
4. Market Outlook
Short‑term (late August‑early September): The market will maintain weak‑to‑sideways movement. High sulfuric‑acid costs form bottom‑line support against steep price declines. However, without obvious domestic demand recovery, significant price rallies are unlikely. Case‑by‑case negotiation will continue and wide price gaps between different suppliers will persist.
Prospects for September peak season: If operating rates of downstream coating and plastic industries improve after inventory depletion, mild restocking may bring marginal market recovery, yet the rebound magnitude is expected to be limited. Export order volume will keep influencing factory shipment schedules.
Process divergence: Sulfate‑process products are continuously squeezed by high sulfuric‑acid costs. Chloride‑process grades gain further competitive advantages, with rising market share in high‑end coatings, automotive paints and plastics.
5. Grade Reference (GR‑901, R‑895: chloride‑process; R6628, R6618(T): sulfate‑process)
Chloride‑process (GR‑901, R‑895): Featured with superior weather resistance and blue undertone. Ideal for high‑end coatings, coil coatings and automotive paints, with prominent cost‑performance for customers requiring stable quality.
Sulfate‑process Rutile (R6618(T), R6628): Cost‑effective. Sufficient low‑priced supplies available in August for inks, general‑purpose coatings and plastic masterbatch applications. Distinguish actual deal prices from official list prices during procurement.