Titanium Dioxide Exports Plunge in April Amid Intensifying Trade Barriers

According to the latest data from China Customs, China's titanium dioxide (TiO₂) exports fell sharply to 148,000 metric tons in April 2024, representing a 20.0% decline month-on-month and a 6.0% decrease year-on-year. Exports of sulfate-process TiO₂ amounted to 118,000 tons, down 19.2% from March, while chloride-process TiO₂ exports totaled 30,400 tons, a month-on-month drop of 22.3%.

In terms of destination markets, the top five export countries in April were India, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea. India ranked first, importing 18,000 tons of Chinese TiO₂ during the month.

On May 10, 2025, India's Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 12/2025-Customs(ADD), announcing the imposition of anti-dumping duties on titanium dioxide originating in or imported from China. The decision follows a final affirmative determination issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on February 12, 2025. The anti-dumping duties range from USD 460 to USD 681 per ton and will be effective for a period of five years. Affected companies include Anhui Jinliang Titanium, Shandong Jinhai Titanium, Shandong Xianghai Titanium, and Lomon Billions Group, among others.

India is a key market for Chinese TiO₂, with exports totaling 307,500 tons in 2024 - accounting for 16% of China's total TiO₂ exports. The imposition of anti-dumping duties is expected to significantly impact China's export performance in this segment.

The introduction of anti-dumping measures by the EU and Brazil earlier in 2025 has already weighed on China's titanium dioxide exports. The downward trend continued in April, with monthly export volumes falling from 158,400 tons in January to 148,000 tons. Although cumulative exports from January to April 2025 reached 648,900 tons, representing a modest year-on-year increase of 0.3%, the growth rate has slowed considerably. April's figures also fell below the 2024 monthly average of 158,500 tons.

In response to rising trade barriers from the EU, Brazil, and India, Chinese TiO₂ producers have been actively seeking new opportunities in emerging markets such as Africa and Southeast Asia. However, with global end-user demand remaining sluggish and the traditional off-season approaching, weak domestic demand and declining overseas orders are expected to intensify competition in the domestic market. As global trade uncertainties persist and domestic consumption shows little sign of recovery, the supply-demand imbalance in the titanium dioxide industry is likely to continue, putting sustained pressure on product pricing.