According to the Guidance Directory for Adjustment of Industrial Structures (2011 edition), the production of titanium dioxide by sulfuric acid method has been listed in the restricted category, and the application of chlorination process is far from satisfactory. Thus there is only a relatively limited growth in capacity (about 20 metric tons) expected to be newly established within the next two years.

 

Statistics from industrial association show that the total capacity of China’s titanium dioxide industry in 2013 is 2.9 million metric tons, and the total output 2.14 million. (1.54 million mt of rutile, 0.4 million mt of anatase, and 0.21 million mt of non-pigment level). The overall operation rate is about 73%.

 

With the economic recovery in Europe this year, exports of titanium dioxide showed a sharp increase. The export volume from January to April 2014 has witnessed a year-on-year increase of 58%, and overseas demands are expected to grow by 200,000-300,000 metric tons within the year. The upward trend of titanium dioxide industry recovery seems to have emerged.

 

Titanium dioxide giants LOMON and several other leading manufacturers have announced price increases in 2014, and LOMON’s prices of certain titanium dioxide products have hit record highs. LOMON has announced a price hike of titanium dioxide on July 14 by 300 yuan/mt. Current prevailing prices of titanium dioxide range from 12,600 yuan/mt to 12,800 yuan/mt.