Cost expectations provide slight support; titanium dioxide struggles to see a rapid recovery [SMM Titanium Spot News]

Published: Sep 3, 2026 17:59

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[SMM titanium spot bulletin: cost expectations provide weak support; titanium dioxide struggles to recover quickly] Titanium dioxide prices are currently seeing limited movement. The expiry of phosphate fertiliser controls is expected to provide cost support from sulphuric acid, but titanium concentrates remain weak. End-use demand from real estate and coatings is sluggish, and the September-October peak season effect is fading. The market lacks a basis for recovery and is expected to consolidate in the doldrums in the short term. Attention should be paid to the release of actual downstream orders.

SMM, September 3:

The SMM titanium dioxide index was reported at 14,080 yuan/mt. Mainstream quotations for rutile titanium dioxide were 12,500-14,800 yuan/mt, with an average price of 13,650 yuan/mt; anatase titanium dioxide was quoted at 12,000-13,000 yuan/mt, and chloride-process titanium dioxide at 15,300-17,000 yuan/mt. Prices for all types of titanium dioxide remained flat today.

Current titanium dioxide price movements are limited. On the raw material side, the phased port export control on agricultural phosphate fertiliser expired on August 31, and the increase in phosphate fertiliser exports lifted market expectations for sulphuric acid consumption, which may provide some cost support for titanium dioxide. However, upstream titanium concentrates remained under pressure, and overall raw material support was limited. On the demand side, end-use demand from downstream sectors such as real estate and coatings remained persistently weak, becoming the core constraint on the industry, and the traditional September-October peak season effect has yet to be effectively released. Overall, end-use demand is difficult to repair quickly, and the market does not yet have the basis for a significant recovery. In the short term, the titanium dioxide market is likely to remain in the doldrums and consolidate, with continued close attention needed on the actual release of downstream orders.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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