2023

International giants are raising prices one after another—domestic prices for titanium dioxide may soon see a turning point.

International titanium dioxide giant Kronos announced it will raise prices on its titanium dioxide products starting in June—this marks the second price hike by a major overseas titanium dioxide producer in less than six months. Meanwhile, Vietnam will increase export tariffs on certain mineral products by 10% beginning June 19, raising the export tariff on titanium ore from the current 30% to 40%. Analysts note that, driven by these external factors—including overseas price increases and higher export tariffs on titanium ore—domestically produced titanium dioxide, after undergoing a period of deep adjustment, is now enjoying a stronger price advantage.

Connor recently announced that, effective June 1, 2013, it will raise prices on all titanium dioxide products sold in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Specifically, prices will increase by at least €200 per ton in Western Europe and Turkey; by 10 cents per pound in North America; and by $250 per ton in Eastern Europe, as well as in regions outside North America and Europe. Currently, domestic titanium dioxide prices range from 14,000 to 17,000 yuan per ton, while international prices hover between $4,000 and $4,400 per ton. Meanwhile, Connor’s domestic pricing for paint-grade titanium dioxide stands at approximately 21,000 yuan per ton.

In March prior to this, Connors, Huntsman, Koster, and Ishihara had engaged in a collective price hike, increasing prices by around 10%, or by $250 to $300 per ton.

According to Vietnamese sources, Vietnam will raise export tariffs on certain mineral products by 10% starting June 19. As a result, the export tariff for titanium ore will increase from the current 30% to 40%. Previously, Vietnam's ban on titanium ore exports had already driven up prices of titanium concentrates, subsequently pushing up the price of titanium dioxide.

Industry insiders pointed out that a key factor behind ConocoPhillips' price hike is the robust recovery of the U.S. housing market over the past year, which has led to a significant surge in demand for paints and coatings—directly benefiting upstream titanium dioxide producers. According to a report from the National Association of Home Builders, new home starts in 2012 are expected to increase by nearly 22% compared to 2011. Although Chinese real estate investment has seen some short-term contraction, overall, China is still poised for strong growth in infrastructure development in the long term, ensuring sustained high demand for titanium dioxide.

Industry insiders note that although the domestic titanium dioxide market previously experienced a situation where international prices rose while domestic prices fell, with continuous price hikes overseas—such as DuPont increasing its titanium dioxide prices by 200 to 500 yuan per ton starting May 1—domestic titanium dioxide prices may soon stop falling and begin to stabilize. In fact, there’s a growing possibility that prices could even start fluctuating upward after May.

Yang Xun, a titanium dioxide analyst at Business Society, told reporters that currently, domestic titanium dioxide prices—ranging from 14,000 to 17,000 yuan per ton—are already nearing the cost lines of most manufacturers, with only a few large enterprises still able to maintain operations. Meanwhile, another industry insider noted that aligning with the international 10% price hike would imply room for profit improvement. At present, downstream sectors such as real estate and papermaking are experiencing slower growth, causing the overall titanium dioxide market to enter a bottom-finding phase. However, supported by rising costs, it’s expected that there won’t be much further room for prices to decline.

The paperboard sector outperformed the broader market: This week, the paperboard sector rose by 1.8%, while the CSI 300 Index gained 0.85% over the same period, giving the sector a lead of 0.95 percentage points. Among them, the eight key paperboard companies included in the analysis climbed 2.63%, outpacing the overall market by 1.78 percentage points.

2023

06-27

Guangdong's energy-saving and emission-reduction efforts are off to a strong start in 2013; carbon trading may be launched as early as September.

The Guangdong Provincial Commission of Economy and Information Technology revealed that in the first half of this year, Guangdong's industrial value-added energy consumption dropped by 7.4%, while energy consumption among more than 900 energy-saving and low-carbon enterprises declined by 2.2%. Overall, the province experienced a positive trend in energy conservation throughout 2013.

2023

06-27

International giants are raising prices one after another—domestic prices for titanium dioxide may soon see a turning point.

International titanium dioxide giant Kronos has announced it will raise prices on its titanium dioxide products starting in June, marking the second price hike by a major overseas titan dioxide producer in less than six months. Meanwhile, Vietnam will increase export tariffs on certain mineral products by 10%, effective June 19, raising the export tariff on titanium ore from the current 30% to 40%. Analysts note that, driven by these external factors—including overseas price increases and higher export tariffs on titanium ore—domestically produced titanium dioxide, after undergoing a period of deep adjustment, is now gaining a more competitive pricing advantage. Kronos recently announced that, effective June 1, 2013, it would raise prices for all its titanium dioxide products sold in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Specifically, prices will increase by at least €200 per tonne in Western Europe and Turkey; by 10 cents per pound in North America; and by $250 per tonne in Eastern Europe, as well as in regions outside North America and Europe. Currently, domestic titanium dioxide prices range from 14,000 to 17,000 yuan per tonne, while international prices hover between $4,000 and $4,400 per tonne. Kronos’ domestic pricing for paint-grade titanium dioxide stands at approximately 21,000 yuan per tonne. Earlier this year, in March, Kronos, along with Huntsman, Koster, and Stone, jointly implemented another round of price hikes, increasing prices by about 10%, or roughly $250 to $300 per tonne. Meanwhile, according to Vietnamese sources, Vietnam will raise export tariffs on select mineral products by 10% starting June 19, pushing titanium ore export duties from the current 30% to 40%. Previously, Vietnam’s ban on titanium ore exports had already triggered a surge in ilmenite concentrate prices, which in turn pushed up the cost of titanium dioxide. Industry insiders point out that a key factor behind Kronos’ price hike is the robust recovery of the U.S. housing market over the past year, leading to a significant surge in demand for paints and coatings—and directly benefiting upstream titanium dioxide producers. According to a report from the National Association of Home Builders, new home construction starts in 2012 are expected to rise nearly 22% compared to 2011 levels. Although China’s real estate investment has shown some signs of contraction in the short term, overall, China remains poised for sustained high growth in infrastructure development, ensuring long-term positive prospects for titanium dioxide demand. Industry experts also note that while the domestic titanium dioxide market previously experienced a situation where global price hikes were met with domestic price declines, the recent string of overseas price increases—such as DuPont’s announcement on May 1st to raise titanium dioxide prices by 200 to 500 yuan per tonne—suggests that the trough in domestic pricing may soon be filled. In fact, there’s even a possibility that prices could shift back into an upward trajectory following May. Yang Xun, a titanium dioxide analyst at Business Society, told reporters that domestic titanium dioxide prices, currently ranging from 14,000 to 17,000 yuan per tonne, are already nearing the cost thresholds for most manufacturers, with only a few large companies still able to maintain operations. Another industry insider added that aligning domestic price increases with the anticipated 10% rise internationally implies room for improved profitability. At present, downstream sectors like real estate and paper production are experiencing slower growth, placing the overall titanium dioxide market in a bottom-finding phase. However, supported by rising costs, further downward pressure on prices is unlikely to persist for long.

2023

06-27

The EU achieves a major breakthrough in innovative super-surface coating technology.