China TiO2 Imports Fall as Domestic Producers Hike Prices

China’s titanium dioxide (TiO₂) imports have dropped sharply even as domestic suppliers raise prices. In the first seven months of 2025, China imported 47,000 tons of TiO₂, a 17.2% year-on-year decrease. Notably, imports of sulfate-process TiO₂ rose to 18,200 tons (+6.5%), while chloride-process TiO₂ imports fell to 28,900 tons (–27.3%), reflecting shifting sourcing trends.

Facing squeezed margins, Chinese TiO₂ producers launched a coordinated price increase in mid-August. Industry leader LB Group hiked TiO₂ pigment prices by ¥500 per ton for domestic buyers and $70 per ton for export on August 18. This move triggered a chain reaction: over 20 other producers (including Panzhihua Tihai, Huiyun Titanium, and Anada) swiftly followed with increases, some as high as ¥800 per ton. The price hikes aim to offset rising costs and come just ahead of the peak autumn demand season, though analysts note that sustained recovery will depend on a rebound in downstream paint and plastics demand.