Weak Demand: Titanium Dioxide Prices Remained Stable This Week [SMM Analysis]

This week, the titanium dioxide market prices generally showed a relatively stable trend. Currently, the price of sulphuric acid 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: Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group has suspended the external supply of raw ore, leading to an increasingly tight supply of Sinomine Resource Group in the market. Many hydraulic beneficiation plants have been forced to suspend operations for maintenance due to this impact, and the supply of concentrate resources in the market has also started to tighten. It is expected that titanium ore prices will remain stable in the future.

As the year-end approaches, affected by high raw material prices and sluggish sales of finished products, some titanium dioxide factories are planning to halt production. The titanium dioxide market is showing a trend where some enterprises are halting production and intensifying destocking efforts. Additionally, as the overseas market enters the pre-holiday stockpiling period, the export market can still mitigate the impact of declining domestic demand. According to reports, some titanium dioxide manufacturers are experiencing tight supply and have issued price adjustment notices, raising domestic prices by 500 yuan/mt. However, considering the currently sluggish market demand, whether the price adjustments can be implemented remains to be tested by the market. SMM expects titanium dioxide prices to continue to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, with the overall market showing a stable yet slightly weak operating trend.