Asian titanium dioxide prices fell

January 16, 2024

Due to the seasonal weakness in demand for downstream paint and coating products, coupled with sufficient supply of titanium dioxide, market participants expect that the price of Asian titanium dioxide in the market may continue to decline.

A major supplier in Northeast Asia stated: “We have also heard that some suppliers are actively stabilizing prices, but the market has not chosen to follow suit.” Recently, some major suppliers lowered their third-quarter delivery prices in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, the uncertainties in the economies of China and the Eurozone also have some impact on market sentiment. Titanium dioxide buyers believe that suppliers will further cut prices to protect their market share. The market price of titanium dioxide in China has also been declining. In order to attract buyers and prevent overstocking, a large Chinese manufacturer of titanium dioxide has lowered the price of products by 1,000 yuan. At the same time, other Chinese suppliers also lowered their quotation by 500 to 700 yuan.

According to news from major distributors, due to the lacklustre interest of buyers in the Chinese market, there is basically no import price for the discussion, and the offer price is between 2300 and 2600 U.S. dollars. A large paint manufacturer in Southeast Asia said: “It is not yet clear whether the economic situation in Asia will improve in the second half of the year. We are still executing orders in the second quarter and we are not in a hurry to confirm orders for the third quarter.”

In South Korea, the import of titanium dioxide was blocked due to the weakening of the Korean won against the US dollar. Currently, a North American supplier and a Northeast Asian supplier are negotiating with the customer for the third quarter price of plastic grade titanium dioxide pigments. The discussion price is 2450~2500 US dollars, which is 30~50 dollars lower than the second quarter delivery price.

The price of titanium dioxide in the Japanese market is currently maintained at 300-350 yen/kg. Buyers chose to withdraw from the market before the Golden Week holiday in early August. The price of titanium dioxide exported from Japan to the Asian and Middle Eastern markets fell by US$100-$200.

In the Southeast Asian market, the price for the delivery of the major suppliers from North America and Europe in the third quarter was 2,200 to 2,400 U.S. dollars. Market participants predict that the titanium dioxide market may improve in September because it is customary that demand for the plastics industry will resume growth before the end of the holiday season.

Silicon Dioxide B 167