Titanium Concentrates Market Remains Weak, Raw Material Weakens, Titanium Dioxide Still Faces Downside Risks [SMM Titanium Spot Express]

SMM August 7 news:  

Today, the average price of titanium concentrates (TiO2 ≥46%) settled at 1,275 yuan/mt, titanium concentrates (TiO2 ≥47%) averaged 1,475 yuan/mt, imported titanium concentrates (Mozambique, TiO2 ≥46%) settled at 1,485 yuan/mt, and titanium dioxide prices remained stable.

This week, titanium dioxide stopped falling and stabilized, while titanium concentrate market continued to weaken, with the overall titanium market remaining in the doldrums. In July, high operating rates in the titanium dioxide industry led to a sharp MoM inventory increase, while downstream traditional sectors such as coatings and plastics continued to see weak off-season demand. Raw material side, various titanium concentrate prices generally declined this week. Increases in Panxi by-product output, combined with the return of Myanmar-sourced supplies, continued to expand supply, while the sluggish property market dragged down downstream purchasing, leading to significant declines in imported titanium concentrates. The industry chain formed a negative feedback loop, where weakness in titanium dioxide suppressed raw material purchases, and declining ore prices further weakened cost support for titanium dioxide. In the short term, the titanium dioxide and titanium concentrate markets are expected to remain in the doldrums. Going forward, continued attention is needed on the progress of production cuts at titanium dioxide enterprises and changes in export orders following the end of the summer break outside China.