Titanium Ore Fell, Inventory Was Under Pressure, and Sponge Titanium Prices Rose Strongly on Supply and Demand Support [SMM Titanium Spot Flash Report]

SMM News, March 11:

Titanium Ore
Domestic titanium concentrate prices edged down today. Quotations for TiO₂≥46% material were yuan 1,550-1,600/mt, with an average of yuan 1,575/mt, down yuan 30 from the previous working day; quotations for TiO₂≥47% material were yuan 1,850-1,950/mt, with an average of yuan 1,900/mt, down yuan 25 from the previous working day. This week, the titanium ore market remained in the doldrums, with overall performance staying weak. Affected by the transmission of cost pressure from titanium dioxide, downstream buyers continued to push for lower prices on the raw material side. Coupled with relatively high overall titanium ore inventory, prices were under pressure.

Titanium Sponge
Today, quotations for Grade 0 titanium sponge were yuan 47,000-49,000/mt, with an average of yuan 47,500/mt, up yuan 500 from the previous working day; FOB quotations were $7,100/mt, up $100 from yesterday. Yunnan Guotai Metal issued a price adjustment notice, raising domestic selling prices for all titanium sponge grades by yuan 2,000/mt and international selling prices by $300/mt effective March 10. Current market quotations remained firm, mainly supported by strong restocking demand for titanium materials and relatively low overall titanium sponge inventory, with enterprises showing a strong willingness to hold prices firm. However, enforcement of the new export prices still appeared average, and attention should be paid to acceptance in markets outside China going forward.