October price hikes for North American TiO2 of US$0.15-$0.30/lb. slip an average US$0.10/lb., say buyers, but sellers do not confirm; drop would be the first in two years of steady price increases

Bdebbie Garcia

LOS ANGELES , September 28, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – Announced October price hikes for titanium dioxide (TiO2) from North America appear to have declined by an average US$10 per pound, or US$220 (€161) per tonne, according to some buyers, reported ICIS news on Sept. 28.

TiO2 producers would not confirm any slippage in the intended price increase, but a few buyers reported similar experiences with concessions from the $0.15-$0.35/lb price increases original scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, the Surrey, England-based chemical news service reported.

Any erosion in the announced October increase would mark a shift in direction from two years of steadily increasing prices.

Earlier this year, suppliers announced plans to boost TiO2 prices over September-October by $0.35/lb, although this varied among the five major producers. North American TiO2 prices are now at $1.65-$1.79/lb, as calculated by ICIS.

One buyer called the $0.10/lb reduction “a sure thing,” while others were either negotiating or anticipating that the TiO2 price hike would be scaled back by a dime at least.

The primary source of this article is ICIS news, Surrey, England, on Sept. 28, 2011.

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