The titanium dioxide market remains in the doldrums, as cost support and weak demand are locked in a tug of war [SMM Titanium Spot Express]
[SMM Titanium Dioxide Spot Report: Titanium dioxide market remains in the doldrums, with cost support and weak demand in a tug-of-war] SMM, July 21: Currently, the titanium dioxide market remains in the doldrums. The actual order signing price in the Panxi region has fallen to around 14,000 yuan/mt, with deals negotiated on an individual basis. On the supply side, operating rates are diverging. High sulphuric acid costs provide support, but downstream sectors such as coatings and plastics are in their off-season, demand is sluggish, and purchasing remains largely wait-and-see. In the short term, July and August are unlikely to see significant improvement. A phased recovery is expected from mid-to-late August to September, but the rebound will be limited.