Recently, several large producers in Australia, Canada and South Africa have experienced declines in high-grade rutile and titanium slag production, and European pigment producers are facing shortages of titanium dioxide.
Tight supply caused the price of titanium dioxide to rise in the third quarter of this year. According to the data released by Industrial Minerals, from July 5 to mid-July, the price of bulk titanium dioxide from China's lowest 95% has risen from 850 to 950 US dollars per ton. It has reached 950~1100 US dollars; the price of titanium dioxide from Australia has also increased from 800~900 US dollars per ton to 930~1020 US dollars.
It is understood that ILUKA, the world's largest supplier of zircon sand, has closed the Murray Basin production facility, resulting in a reduction of 20,000 tons of rutile and whitstone supply this year. In addition, Sibelco is located in Strabrock. The island project will also be closed. Market analysts will reduce the supply of 35,000 tons of rutile by 2020.