TITANIUM DIOXIDE | PIGMENTS


Calm returns to TiO2


The titanium dioxide pigment market has certainly had its ups and downs in recent years – significant price fluctuations, substantial M&A activity, and new players coming and going. The situation today appears to be a little calmer, due in part at least to the damping effect that COVID-19 has had on activities of all sorts. In development terms, activity in pigment grades for plastics has continued and some increased capacities are in the offing. Providers of


complementary technologies that help ‘stretch’ TiO2 in formulations are also upping their game. “During the pandemic, global producers have


reduced production, stabilising the price of their products and maintaining manageable inventory levels. Conversely, Chinese producers have increased exports while decreasing price, increas- ing the price differential to near record levels,” says Gerry Colamarino, Managing Director of TiPMC Consulting. Major producers have been pushing for price increases in recent months. Venator, for example,


www.compoundingworld.com


market


Slower demand seems to have eased TiO2 pricing fluctuations a little and delayed some capacity expansions but newcomers are


still eyeing market opportunities.Peter Mapleston reports


announced global increases of $120/tonne to come into effect in March and April. In late August this year SK Capital said it will purchase 80% of Huntsman’s 49% stake in Venator, with an option to purchase the remaining 20%. SK owns assets producing other pigments — it acquired Clariant’s Textile Chemicals, Paper Specialties, and Emulsions businesses in back in 2013 and renamed them Archroma — but the stake in Venator will be its first involving TiO2 TiO2


. feedstock prices have continually increased,


with some stabilisation for both chloride and sulphate slag products, according to Colamarino. “Increased feedstock costs are impacting margins for all producers, including Chinese producers. The margin depletion is increasing costs, as well as impacting reinvestment economics,” he says.


Slowing expansions Chemours is one of the world’s largest manufactur- ers of titanium dioxide, vying for the top position with Tronox. Speaking in May, Chemours CEO Mark


October 2020 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 51


Main image: The Covid pandemic has dampened the TiO2 price fluctuations of recent years and delayed some capacity expansions


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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