Abstract
Read the definitive report on the global titanium minerals and pigments
industry, its markets and its future
What this report gives you:
- Independent, in-depth research and analysis
- Essential market intelligence for successful business planning
- Detailed survey of production and processing in 52 countries
- Up-to-date profiles of the activities of over 70 producing and processing
companies and potential projects, including Rio Tinto, Illuka Resources,
Kronos and Exxaro Resources
- Forecasts for end-use consumption & world supply & demand
A valuable resource for:
- Chief executives
- Market researchers
- Information centres
- Strategic planners
- Financial analysts
- Product developers
Report Highlights
With the expansion of the Chinese market, the Asia-Pacific region became the
second largest regional market for TiO2 in 2005, with consumption of TiO2
pigments increasing to 1.3Mt in 2005 and then to a forecast 1.4Mt in 2006.
China' s TiO2 pigments capacity, which was 720ktpy at the end of 2005, is
expected to reach 840ktpy in 2006 and 900ktpy by the end of 2007.
About 4Mt of TiO2 in feedstocks were traded internationally in 2005, while
international trade in TiO2 pigments increased from about 1.9Mt in 2001 to
2.5Mt in 2005. Trade in TiO2 feedstocks consists largely of exports of
ilmenite, slag, synthetic rutile and natural rutile from Australia, South
Africa, Canada, Vietnam, India and Ukraine to the USA, Germany, Japan China,
the UK and France.
Production of PVC, polyethylene and polypropylene in China is expanding
rapidly. Mineral-filled polypropylene used in automotive, appliance and
furniture industries is an important market for TiO2 and it is here where
growth is most likely. The cost of TiO2, in comparison to other mineral
additives such as calcium carbonate and talc, will continue to be the biggest
drawback to future growth in the use of TiO2 in plastics.
Titanium dioxide is produced either via digestion of feedstocks in sulphuric
acid, or chlorination in chlorine gas: the sulphate and chloride process. Both
processes produce solid, liquid and gaseous waste. The control and treatment
of waste products from TiO2 plants represents a major part of the economics of
TiO2 pigment industry.
Five multinational US-based companies, DuPont, Lyondell, Huntsman, Tronox (the
successor to Kerr McGee) and Kronos, account for around 70% of world TiO2
capacity, with the remaining capacity outside China in the hands of 20 to 30
regional companies.
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