The third round of price hikes begins! Leading companies collectively announce increases!

Recently, Shandong Dongjia and Ningbo Xinfu have successively issued letters to increase the price of titanium dioxide, with domestic prices rising by 500 yuan/ton and overseas sales prices increasing by 70 US dollars/ton. There are reports that leading companies may have intentions for a new round of price hikes, but the specifics await official announcements. Other titanium dioxide enterprises are currently observing the moves of the leading companies.

On March 17th, Ningbo Xinfu Titanium Dioxide Co., Ltd. issued a price adjustment notice stating: Based on the current market situation, after company research and decision, the domestic price of rutile titanium dioxide will be increased by 500 yuan/ton based on the original price of March 17, 2025, and the export price will be increased by 70 USD/ton.

Shandong Dongjia Group announced that the domestic selling price of titanium dioxide series products will be increased by 500 yuan/ton, and the overseas selling price will be increased by 70 USD/ton, starting from March 10, 2025.

Chemours announced that starting from April 1, the prices of all grades of titanium dioxide products sold in the Asia-Pacific region will be increased by $100 per ton. Domestic titanium dioxide companies such as Lomon Group have also raised the sales prices of titanium dioxide both domestically and internationally twice this year, in January and February.

Recently, the raw material end of titanium dioxide has seen a rapid increase, with sulfur and sulfuric acid showing significant upward trends, while titanium concentrate remains in a consolidation phase. Under the pressure of high costs, titanium dioxide is being pushed to rise.

Sulfuric acid: Recently, domestic sulfuric acid prices have shown a strong increase. Currently, the price of 98% sulfuric acid is between 650-671 yuan/ton. Sulfuric acid production enterprises in Anhui and Guangxi have started maintenance, and sulfuric acid production enterprises in Hubei also have maintenance plans. On the demand side, fertilizer production is gradually increasing, leading to an increase in raw material demand. Under the叠加的供需因素下，国内湖北、湖南、河南、山东、江苏、浙江、福建、广东、广西、云南等地硫酸价格明显上行。 Due to the combined supply and demand factors, sulfuric acid prices in Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan have significantly increased.

Source: Business Society

Titanium concentrate: Titanium concentrate prices are consolidating upwards. Panzhihua 46%, 10 mines reference price is 2080-2150 yuan/ton, Chengde area 45% titanium concentrate quotation is 1650-1700 yuan/ton, Mozambique 46% 2300-2350 yuan/ton, Nigeria 49% 2250-2300 yuan/ton.

According to industry insiders, affected by the external sales control of Panzhihua Iron and Steel's raw ore and the shutdown of mines in Yunnan, titanium ore spot resources continue to be tight. Coupled with the maintenance of sulfuric acid facilities in the main production areas leading to low inventory, the supply is unlikely to ease in the short term.

Under the cost pressure of raw materials such as sulfuric acid, there is basically no room for a decrease in titanium dioxide prices. Additionally, with international titanium dioxide company Chemours planning to increase prices in April, the intention to raise prices in the titanium dioxide market in March has become even stronger. Based on the current market situation, the titanium dioxide market is welcoming its third price increase.

It is understood that, in addition to titanium dioxide, the price of barium sulfate has also recently seen a collective increase.

On March 18, Jimei Jinghua Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the increasingly tight supply of barite resources required for the production of sodium sulfide as a by-product of barium sulfate, after our company's multiple efforts and coordination, in anticipation of absorbing the various factors and cost increases resulting from the insufficient supply, after a very careful consideration of costs, it has been decided that starting from March 18, 2025, our company will adjust the prices of some products as follows: The price of barium sulfate will be increased by 200 yuan per ton based on the original price.

Recently, Hubei Qinba New Materials Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the recent significant increase in raw material prices, and with a continuous upward trend, the production cost of precipitated barium sulfate has been continuously rising, putting great pressure on the company's production and operation. Considering the actual situation of the company and adhering to the principle of mutual benefit, starting from March 17, 2025, the price of our company's precipitated barium sulfate products will be increased by 200 yuan per ton based on the current price.

Guizhou Red Star Development Import and Export Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Starting from March 17, 2025, the price of the company's precipitated barium sulfate series products will increase by 200 yuan/ton based on the current company's benchmark price.

Shaanxi Fuhua Chemical Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the shortage of raw materials and the continuous rise in prices, leading to a constant increase in our production costs, after research by the company, it has been decided that starting from March 17, 2025, the price of our barium sulfate precipitate products will be increased by 200 yuan per ton based on the original price.

Guangxi Lianzhuang Technology Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the continuous rise in raw material prices, causing our barium sulfate production costs to remain high, after research and decision by our company, starting from March 17, 2025, the price of our barium sulfate products will be increased by 200 yuan per ton based on the original price.

Pingli County Andeli New Materials Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the shortage of raw material mineral resources and high production and operation costs, after research by the company's price committee, it has been decided that starting from March 17, 2025, the price of precipitated barium sulfate will be increased by 200 yuan per ton.

Deepzhou Jiaxin Chemical Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the severe environmental protection situation recently, large environmental protection investments, and the increase in the price of required raw materials, leading to an increase in product costs, according to the actual market demand, our company will, starting from March 17, 2025, increase the price of precipitated barium sulfate by 200 yuan per ton based on the original price.

Guizhou Yufulong Technology Co., Ltd. issued a notice stating: Due to the severe shortage and price increase of barite ore, which is a raw material required for the production of precipitated barium sulfate, leading to a significant increase in production costs, the company has decided after research: starting from March 17, 2025, the ex-factory price of our precipitated barium sulfate products will be adjusted to 3,300 yuan per ton based on the original price.

According to relevant data, the domestic barium sulfate price has been continuously rising for 1 year. In 2024, the domestic precipitated barium sulfate price was 2800 yuan/ton. By March 2025, the domestic precipitated barium sulfate price had exceeded 4000 yuan/ton. Currently, the increase has reached 1000 yuan/ton, with a rise of 42%.

According to industry insiders: the continuous rise in domestic barium sulfate prices is mainly due to an exceptionally tight supply of barite ore. Additionally, the current market price for barium sulfate by-products has significantly declined, unable to provide more profit margins, causing many enterprises to hover on the brink of losses. Therefore, barium sulfate companies have no choice but to increase prices.

The price increase of raw materials such as titanium dioxide and barium sulfate will inevitably bring cost pressures to downstream enterprises, such as paint companies. Many companies, like Nippon Paint, Changsha Huatai, and Oriental Yuhong, have already started to adjust their prices.

If these companies cannot effectively transfer costs, they may face the risk of losses or even closure. What is even more frightening is that there are currently no signs of a halt in the rise of raw material prices.