Titanium Dioxide Prices Remain Firm: What Lies Ahead? [SMM Analysis]

This week, the titanium dioxide market continued the pre-holiday upward trend, with over 20 companies issuing price increase notices. Currently, the price of sulphate-process rutile titanium dioxide is quoted at 14,000-14,900 yuan/mt, while anatase titanium dioxide is quoted at 12,500-13,000 yuan/mt.

In terms of raw materials: due to sufficient pre-holiday stockpiling by companies and relatively high prices, the profit margin for titanium dioxide has narrowed. Producers showed weak purchase willingness, focusing mainly on price inquiries, with limited actual trading volume. However, supported by the pre- and post-holiday price increase trend of titanium dioxide, the overall market sentiment remained bullish, and holders generally maintained a wait-and-see attitude on prices.

This week, as many titanium dioxide factories conducted concentrated maintenance before the holiday, the order volume of operating enterprises increased, and inventories were generally low. With more factories resuming production or returning from holiday, the trading activity in the titanium dioxide market has improved compared to before, mainly driven by intensified stockpiling and hoarding operations ahead of the Chinese New Year, which exacerbated supply tightness. It is reported that low inventory levels among traders and downstream sectors have caused supply tightness for some titanium dioxide producers, leading to a slight increase in domestic titanium dioxide prices. The supply of titanium dioxide is expected to recover steadily, and the market may gradually improve.