NEWS

Q1 2026 China Titanium Dioxide Market Overview

In Q1 2026, China’s titanium dioxide exports reached 536,800 tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.15%. March exports amounted to 201,500 tons, up 33.03% month-on-month and 8.92% year-on-year. Imports kept shrinking to 15,600 tons in Q1, dropping 25.10% year-on-year. High-value-added chloride-process titanium dioxide exports hit 135,800 tons in the quarter, surging 39.24% year-on-year. The robust growth reflects that China’s titanium dioxide industry is speeding up transformation from sulfate-process scale expansion to high-quality development, with export product structure continuously optimized.

Titanium Dioxide Industry Recovery Drives By-product Value Upgrading

Titanos Ferrous Sulfate Heptahydrate Opens a New Track for Green Applications Since 2026, the domestic titanium dioxide industry has recovered cyclically, with a steady upward price center and strong industrial chain synergy. As main products rebound, the value of its by-product ferrous sulfate heptahydrate has been reactivated. Shanghai Titanos Industry Co., Ltd. has become a reliable supplier for downstream sectors via high-quality products and full-chain services, boosting the industry’s green circular development.

CHINAPLAS has a good effect, but the long-term market price of titanium dioxide remains to be observed

In late April, the titanium dioxide price market was in a period of temporary stability after a price increase. After more than 20 manufacturers announced a price increase last week, many manufacturers are now implementing price increases. Unlike the previous hot market situation, users have significantly slowed down their acceptance of this round of price increases. Some users have raw material reserves in the early stage, so they currently have no purchasing intention. Another group of essential users have a strong desire to lower prices for new orders, and they are also a bit overwhelmed by such frequent and significant price increases.

Why did LB Group raise TiO2 prices three times in one month? An explanation of geopolitical cost-push pricing

For a long time, the pricing logic of the TiO2 market has been "demand-pull": manufacturers' prices directly depend on the demand strength of downstream industries such as real estate, coatings, and plastics. In an industry with overcapacity, weak demand inevitably leads to price wars as manufacturers vie for market share.

In November 2025, China imported approximately 511,400 tons of titanium ore, a month-on-month increase of 39.12%

According to customs data statistics, China imported approximately 511,400 tons of titanium ore in November 2025, a year-on-year increase of 7.59% and a month-on-month increase of 39.12%. The top three import countries were Mozambique (252,100 tons), Australia (98,000 tons), and Nigeria (52,000 tons), accounting for 48.35%,18.80%, and 9.96% of the total imports in November, respectively.

China's Titanium Dioxide Exports Reached Approximately 152,200 Tons in November 2025, Up 3.97% Month-on-Month

Titanium Dioxide Export Data According to customs statistics, China’s titanium dioxide exports in November 2025 totaled 152,200 tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.96% and a month-on-month increase of 3.97%. Among these, sulfate-process titanium dioxide exports amounted to 117,700 tons, up 3.09% month-on-month, while chloride-process titanium dioxide exports reached 34,500 tons, reflecting a month-on-month growth of 7.09%. From January to November 2025, cumulative titanium dioxide exports reached approximately 1.6451 million tons, a decrease of 5.63% year-on-year, equivalent to a reduction of about 98,200 tons. During this period, chloride-process titanium dioxide exports totaled 322,300 tons, up 1.29% year-on-year, while sulfate-process titanium dioxide exports amounted to 1.3228 million tons, down 7.18% year-on-year.

TiO2 Market Outlook: Cost Relief in Sight, Price Upside Remains

By mid-December, the titanium dioxide (TiO₂) market had entered a phase of relative stability. However, production costs remain elevated as key raw materials—sulfur and sulfuric acid—continue to trade at high levels. As a result, most producers remain under significant cost pressure, and expectations for price increases persist, leaving room for further upside.

Energy production in November 2025

In November, the production of raw coal by industrial enterprises above designated size remained stable, the growth rate of crude oil production accelerated, natural gas production grew steadily, and electricity production maintained growth.

The manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose slightly in November, while the non-manufacturing business activity index declined.

On November 30, 2025, the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing released the China Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI). Huo Lihui, Chief Statistician of the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics, provided an interpretation.

Final Rulings on Anti-Dumping Investigations Against China’s Titanium Dioxide

Since August 2023, five regions and countries — the Eurasian Economic Union, the European Commission, India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia — have successively initiated anti-dumping investigations against Chinese titanium dioxide. With the support of the Ministry of Commerce and the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, the China National Coatings Industry Association organized domestic titanium dioxide producers nationwide to actively participate in the industry’s collective defense against injury claims. The final rulings for these five anti-dumping cases are reported as follows:

Titanium Dioxide Market Challenges and Growth Points

Under the dual challenges of global trade barriers and cost pressures, China's titanium dioxide export market is showing an "eastward expansion and westward retreat" pattern, with emerging markets becoming new growth poles. From January to July 2025, China's total titanium dioxide exports were approximately 1.0514 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 7.14%. Based on the trend of 134,800 tons exported in July, a month-on-month increase of 2.19%, the total export volume for the first eight months is estimated to be between 1.18 million and 1.2 million tons. The export pattern has shown significant changes: emerging markets such as India, Vietnam, and Turkey are growing rapidly, while the traditional EU market has shrunk significantly due to trade barriers.

Indian Court Lifts Anti-Dumping Duty on Titanium Dioxide

On September 22, 2025, the Indian titanium dioxide (TiO2) market received a significant update when the Calcutta High Court overturned the government's decision to impose anti-dumping duties on titanium dioxide imports from China. The case was brought by the Indian Paints Association, which represents nearly 90% of the country's coatings industry. They argued that many of the titanium dioxide grades under investigation, particularly rutile sulfate and certain high-performance types, are not produced in India. They argued that imposing duties on these grades would only increase manufacturers' costs without protecting domestic producers. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) had earlier conducted an investigation and issued its final findings on February 12, 2025, recommending the imposition of anti-dumping duties. The government subsequently issued a notification imposing the duties on May 10, 2025. However, the court found serious procedural lapses: confidential information was admitted without a proper non-confidential summary, depriving interested parties of an opportunity to respond fairly. The court stated that this violated natural justice and the provisions of Indian tariff law.