Titanium ore titanium dioxide market analysis in the first quarter of 2021

Titanium Ore

2021 China titanium ore market prices continue to continue the upward trend. The main reasons for the price increase: First, the Feng Yuan due to the problem of row tailing Gaoliangping area is under-started, coupled with the impact of the Pan Steel recovery of titanium ore and other effects, the overall supply of titanium ore is tight. Second, some manufacturers during the Spring Festival overhaul, titanium ore supply reduced, and then by the two meetings and Yunnan biodiversity conference, Shandong, Hebei, Yunnan area start low. Third, titanium dioxide market prices continue to rise, the enterprise starts more than maintain full production and low inventory, according to Tuoduo data statistics, January-February 2021 China's titanium dioxide production totaled 598,000 tons, compared with January-February last year, an increase of 24%, the demand for titanium ore increased. At present, titanium dioxide manufacturers tight supply, titanium dioxide prices are expected to rise again, titanium ore price increase is less than the increase in titanium dioxide, titanium ore prices will continue to rise in the future.

Titanium dioxide

2021 titanium dioxide prices continue to rise momentum, and the magnitude is large, the year-to-date titanium dioxide ushered in a total of three rounds of price increases, a single range of 800-1500 yuan / ton, which rutile titanium dioxide prices from the beginning of the market price of 16,000 yuan / ton or so prices rose to the current 18,600 yuan / ton or so, the cumulative price increase of about 2,600 yuan / ton; prices continue to rise mainly because: First The main reasons for the continued rise in prices: First, the improvement of foreign epidemic, market demand is improving, market export orders continue to surge, domestic demand to maintain steady growth, manufacturers inventory tension; Second, some enterprises during the Spring Festival overhaul, the market downturn in the supply of titanium dioxide; Third, the main raw material titanium ore, sulfuric acid and other auxiliary material prices continue to rise, titanium dioxide business costs continue to increase; Fourth, the United States strong economic stimulus, the market price is more certain to promote. At present, titanium dioxide manufacturers still have more orders on hand, most of the orders scheduled to April-May, manufacturers inventory is still tight; titanium dioxide global market demand increased, titanium dioxide market prices will continue to remain high in the near future.

Import and export data

In January 2021, China imported 278,500 tons of titanium ore, down 7.26% year-on-year and 7.32% YoY. In February, China imported 352,600 tons of titanium ore, up 41.45% YoY and 26.58% YoY. The total import from January to February was about 631,100 tons, up 14.83% YoY and up about 81,500 tons in total from January to February 2020.

The top three countries of titanium ore imports from January to February are: Mozambique, Vietnam and South Africa; accounting for 34%, 19% and 9% of total imports respectively.

In January 2021, China exported about 106,700 tons of titanium dioxide, an increase of 3.67% year-on-year and 4.55% YoY; in February, China exported about 94,400 tons of titanium dioxide, an increase of 32.58% year-on-year and a decrease of 11.49% YoY; from January to February, the cumulative export was about 211,100 tons, an increase of 15.50% year-on-year and an increase of 2.70% compared with the cumulative export from January to February 2020 million tons.

Among them, the top three countries of titanium dioxide exports: India, Brazil, South Korea; accounting for 13%, 9%, 7% of total exports, respectively.

With the improvement of the global epidemic, titanium dioxide demand rose, titanium dioxide demand will continue to maintain optimistic trend. While domestic titanium dioxide prices continue to be high, the domestic titanium dioxide part of the export price will also be under pressure.