On August 18, 2026, the Greatham titanium dioxide plant in Hartlepool, UK, officially resumed production. The plant, which had been idle for nearly a year, is now operated by a newly established entity, Tioxide Materials, and owned by China’s LB Group.
Currently running on a single production line, the plant has resumed supply of its TIOXIDE and DELTIO brand titanium dioxide products to the market. Output will be gradually increased, with full capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year targeted for early 2027.
From Bankruptcy to Restart: LB Takes Over UK Plant in Half a Year
The Greatham plant has over 50 years of production history and was formerly owned by Venator Materials UK. In 2025, Venator entered administration on October 22 due to persistent financial pressure and a deteriorating global titanium dioxide market. The plant had already been idled, and approximately 270 employees were laid off. Just days before the administration, on October 16, LB Group signed an asset purchase agreement with Venator to acquire the Greatham plant and related titanium dioxide assets. The transaction value was US$69.9 million, with an additional approximately US$14.2 million in taxes and transaction-related costs.
On April 23, 2026, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally approved the deal. On April 27, LB Group completed the acquisition and immediately established a new operating company, Tioxide Materials, to take full responsibility for the plant’s operations. Over the following four months, Tioxide Materials carried out equipment commissioning, testing, and maintenance, culminating in the successful restart of production on August 18.
Preserving Brands and Process, Integrating into Global Network
Greatham uses the chloride process and has a nominal capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year of titanium dioxide, mainly for coatings, plastics, and inks. Its TIOXIDE and DELTIO brands have long‑standing customer bases in European and American markets. LB did not replace these brands after the acquisition, but retained the existing product portfolio to maintain market trust. LB has made it clear that it intends to incorporate Greatham into its global production network as a key overseas production hub. Tioxide has now set up a new R&D centre at Wynyard in the UK, while keeping its headquarters and commercial team in Stockton‑on‑Tees, gradually restoring local operations.
Controversy and Why the UK Approved the Deal
The main opposition to the deal came from European and American titanium dioxide producers, who feared that a Chinese company with a low‑cost advantage would enter the UK and squeeze the profit margins of local manufacturers. European industry associations expressed disappointment with the CMA’s approval, arguing that LB could use the UK plant to dump products into Europe. However, the CMA cleared the transaction after its investigation. The UK market currently has another major titanium dioxide producer, Tronox, which operates a plant in Grimsby. The restart of Greatham means the UK will once again have two domestic producers, increasing supply capacity, and the new owner is one of the world’s largest titanium dioxide manufacturers, reshaping the competitive landscape.
Restart Brings Jobs and Strategic Gains
The restart of the idled plant has brought direct employment opportunities to the local area. LB has already begun a new round of hiring, and the workforce is expected to grow as production ramps up. From a global perspective, 150,000 tonnes of capacity is not a huge figure, but for a dormant European plant, the restart itself is a tangible achievement.
More importantly, this marks a substantive step in LB’s overseas expansion. In recent years, China’s titanium dioxide exports have grown steadily, but the EU has imposed anti‑dumping measures on Chinese TiO₂, and the UK has also launched relevant investigations. LB has previously stressed that by setting up overseas production bases to serve local and neighbouring markets, it can effectively mitigate the impact of trade barriers on exports. With the UK plant now in production, that strategic vision is becoming a reality.
At present, the plant is running on a single production line, with Tioxide Materials gradually increasing output as planned, while continuing to hire staff and rebuild customer supply relationships.
