Titanium Industry Chain in the Doldrums Overall, September-October Peak Season May Become a Key Variable [SMM Spot Titanium Express]

SMM, August 14:  

Today, anatase titanium dioxide prices held steady at 13,000-14,000 yuan/mt, rutile titanium dioxide prices settled at 13,600-15,600 yuan/mt, and chloride-process titanium dioxide prices stood at 15,500-17,000 yuan/mt. Overall titanium dioxide prices remained in the doldrums.

This week, the titanium industry chain remained in the doldrums overall. Downstream end-use demand for titanium dioxide was weak, and with industry inventories at high levels, this transmitted upstream to weigh on purchase willingness for raw materials. Trading sentiment in the high-titanium slag and titanium concentrate markets was generally subdued, while ore supply was ample overall; market participants remained cautious about the outlook. At this stage, integration advantages on the cost side have become more pronounced. Enterprises with captive mines and supporting sulphuric acid capacity have significant cost advantages over small and medium-sized producers, leveraging these advantages to seize market share. By contrast, enterprises lacking upstream resource support have limited risk resilience and face mounting production and sales pressure. In the short term, downstream demand is unlikely to improve materially, and the titanium market may remain in the doldrums. However, the end of the summer break outside China and the successive arrival of the September-October peak season may also become key factors driving the market higher.