Titanium Dioxide Prices Stabilize and Rise in August, Early Signs of Market Recovery

By mid-August, the domestic titanium dioxide (TiO₂) market finally showed signs of stabilization. After nearly a year of sluggish performance, industry sentiment has gradually warmed up, with some companies taking the lead in raising quotations, significantly boosting market activity. As a supplier in the industry, we combine market data and recent developments to help clients understand the logic behind this round of price adjustments.

1. Price Trend: From Decline to Rebound, Signals of Recovery

On August 18, industry leader Lomon Billions announced an increase of RMB 500/ton in the domestic market and USD 70/ton in the export market. Previously, Taihai Technology raised prices by RMB 800/ton domestically and USD 80/ton internationally, marking a turning point for the industry. At the same time, several domestic producers announced order suspensions or paused new contracts. After months of continuous decline, the market finally entered a rising phase.

This indicates that the titanium dioxide market has gradually stabilized, with early signs of a rebound from the bottom.

2. Supporting Factors: Supply Contraction and Cost Pressure

This stabilization is not accidental, but rather the result of multiple forces:

Supply contraction: Operating rates remain low at many plants, reducing effective supply. Even before price hikes, the supply chain had tightened, with some smaller factories temporarily suspending production.

Cost pressure: Titanium concentrate prices have shown limited declines, while sulfuric acid and sulfur feedstock prices are still trending upward, keeping production costs elevated.

Demand recovery expectations: As the peak season of “Golden September, Silver October” approaches, downstream industries such as coatings and plastics are entering restocking cycles.

Export shifts: After peaking in Q1 2025, exports declined in Q2. Combined with inventory drawdowns, seasonal demand, and bottoming prices, the traditional peak season arrived earlier in mid-August.

3. Outlook: Short-Term Stability, Medium-Term Dependent on Demand

Short-term (August–early September): Supported by costs and coordinated price adjustments, prices are expected to remain stable to upward, with rigid restocking demand gradually translating into transactions.

Medium-term (late September–October peak season): If downstream demand recovers as expected, the uptrend could continue and strengthen; if demand falls short, partial corrections may occur.

Long-term (Q4): Close monitoring is needed on exports, raw material prices, and plant operating rates to determine whether a new bull cycle is possible.

4. Recommendations from Xiamen CNNC Commerce Market Research Center

For downstream customers, the market is now at a critical stage, moving out of the bottom. We recommend:

Closely tracking price adjustments by leading producers and balancing procurement against existing orders.

Locking in part of the supply ahead of time to mitigate cost fluctuation risks, while flexibly adjusting restocking pace according to actual demand cycles.

Conclusion

Overall, the August price increases serve more as a signal of market recovery from the bottom: they reflect both supply and cost pressures, as well as expectations for peak-season demand. Xiamen CNNC Commerce will continue to provide stable supply and reliable supply chain support, helping clients navigate the new market cycle with confidence.