Third round of price hikes compounded by tariff barriers push titanium white powder "East to exit, West to enter" - exports target Southeast Asia

According to Huizheng Information, as previously reported, the white powder industry is facing a "third wave" of price increases due to rising raw material costs. Following Longyu Group's price increase announcement on March 21, other titanium dioxide powder producers followed suit by issuing price increase notices as well. This marks the third round of price hikes in the domestic titanium dioxide powder industry.

As of the current time, the following companies have raised their prices for the domestic market: - Guangxi Blue Star - Anada - Zhongneng Huao - Guizhou Shengwei - Shandong Xianghai - Jiangsu Tianqi - Guangxi Jincheng - Yancheng Xinzhong - Pujin Fanyuan - Pujin Yincheng For international clients: - Domestic clients have raised their prices by 500 yuan per ton. - International clients have raised their prices by 70 USD per ton. As of the current time, the total price increase for domestic clients is 1100-1300 yuan per ton, and for international clients is 170-220 USD per ton.

From the current market situation, it will take time for new order prices to be implemented. However, the raw material side remains strong, and titanium dioxide companies still face significant cost pressure. The companies have a strong mentality to maintain prices. Currently, the prices for titanium dioxide are as follows: rutile type at 14,500-15,200 RMB/ton, anatase type at 12,800-13,400 RMB/ton, and chloride process at 15,800-17,500 RMB/ton.

China's nickel wharf gates lower due to trade agreements with Southeast Asia Beijing - Chinese ports, where a mountainous island near Hong Kong lies submerged under water, are lowering a massive wall of ships to protect them from European tariffs that had raised prices of nickel exports from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The move was a major decision to support Indonesia, which has the world's third largest supply of nickel and will gain an 18.2% import concession by selling at lower prices in the port. China now gains more of its nickel at home by allowing exports through a series of protective wall structures and imposing its own tax and regulations to restrict competition from imports from European Union member countries and Russia.

Chinese titanium white powder export quantity for January-February 2025 is 31.59 million tons, up 2.25 million tons from the same period in 2024, increasing by 7.67%.The top five exporters for the first two months of 2025 are India, Turkey, South Korea, the UAE, and Indonesia, with India leading in export volume at 636,000 tons, accounting for 20.13% of total exports, compared to 392,000 tons in the first two months of 2024, an increase of 62.24%.

From the export data of the first two months of this year, emerging developing countries such as India, Turkey, and the UAE are experiencing economic growth, with strong demand in downstream industries such as coatings and plastics driven by infrastructure and real estate development. On the other hand, the reduction caused by the EU's anti-dumping measures has forced domestic titanium dioxide enterprises to accelerate their exploration of markets in Southeast Asia and other regions.

From the export data, in January-February 2024, China's titanium dioxide export volume to Belgium was 22,300 tons, ranking second. This year, due to the impact of the EU's anti-dumping measures, Belgium's export ranking has dropped to fifteenth, with an export volume of 5,800 tons. In January-February 2024, the export volume to Thailand was 8,700 tons, which increased to 12,400 tons in January-February 2025, with the ranking rising from outside the top ten to seventh.

In 2025 February 12, the Indian origin or imported from China two oxide of tin products were made a negative declaration order and an anti-dumping duty of $460-$681 per ton, effective for 5 years. The products affected are from companies such as dragon, Anhui Gold Star Tin White, Zhejiang Tin Group, Shandong Gold Sea Tin Industry, Shandong Xiang Hai Tin Industry.

This year, due to India's anti-dumping factors, titanium white powder enterprises have been actively increasing export orders before the formal results are announced, in anticipation of potential price increases later on. As of March 2025, it is expected that China's titanium white powder exports will continue to remain high at 150,000 to 160,000 tons. Currently, the pressure of domestic overcapacity is prompting titanium companies to increase export orders. Under the impact of anti-dumping measures, enterprises are also expanding into new emerging markets, and, prior to the formal announcement of India's anti-dumping tax, are stepping up exports, with the expectation that India's export quantity in March will still be significant.