In late December 2025, China’s titanium dioxide market witnessed its seventh round of collective price increases this year, with 24 domestic producers successively announcing hikes for both domestic and international markets. This upward momentum is primarily fueled by skyrocketing raw material costs and tightened market supply, though cautious sentiment among downstream buyers and price resistance persist. Analysts anticipate the upward trend to extend into early 2026, with new order prices likely to edge up moderately amid stable demand fundamentals. For detailed product specifications and market dynamics of titanium dioxide, you can visit ourtitanium dioxide product page.
I. Overview of the Seventh Round of Price Hikes
As of December 25, 2025, a total of 24 titanium dioxide manufacturers across China had issued price adjustment notices. Specifically, domestic market prices rose by RMB 500-700 per ton, while international quotations increased by USD 70-100 per ton. This round of hikes marks the most intensive price adjustment cycle in the titanium dioxide industry this year, reflecting the urgent need of enterprises to alleviate cost pressures.
II. Core Drivers Behind the Price Surge
1. Roller-Coaster Surge in Raw Material Costs (Primary Driver)
Sun Zheyu, an industry expert, emphasized that the sharp rise in raw material costs is the core trigger for this price hike. In 2025, prices of key raw materials for titanium dioxide production—particularly sulfuric acid and titanium ore—have maintained a steady upward trajectory. Notably, sulfuric acid prices experienced a "roller-coaster-like" surge: the domestic average price reached RMB 773 per ton by mid-November, a year-on-year increase of over 111%. In some regions, the price of 98% ore acid even exceeded RMB 900 per ton.
Meanwhile, tight supply of titanium ore has kept its prices persistently high, further pushing up production costs for titanium dioxide enterprises. Faced with mounting cost pressures, price increases have become an inevitable measure for enterprises to mitigate losses and maintain normal production operations.
2. Supply Contraction and Leading Enterprises' Guidance
Supply-side contraction has provided strong support for the price upward trend. Due to equipment maintenance and other factors, some titanium dioxide enterprises have faced temporary capacity release constraints. Data shows that in November 2025, China’s total titanium dioxide supply dropped to 370,000 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 20,000 tons, and the capacity utilization rate fell to 72%. The tightened market supply has further amplified the upward pressure on prices.
In addition, the leading role of industry giants has been prominent. Price hikes initiated by leading enterprises such as LB Group have boosted market confidence, triggering a domino effect of follow-up price adjustments across the industry. Furthermore, phased rigid demand from downstream sectors such as coatings and plastics—especially during the traditional peak demand seasons of "Golden September and Silver October"—has provided additional support for the price increases.
III. Market Analysis: Cost Pressure Sustains Upward Momentum
Yang Xun, another industry analyst, pointed out that the core logic driving this round of price hikes remains the high costs of raw materials such as sulfur and sulfuric acid. Although there have been announcements regarding supply stabilization and price control measures in the market, their short-term impact is limited. The cost pressure on titanium dioxide producers has not been substantially alleviated, and the accumulated expectation of price increases, coupled with the foundation laid by the previous round of hikes, has made this round of price adjustment announcements a natural progression.
The speed and intensive rhythm of price adjustment notices issued by various enterprises reflect their urgent demand for a market rebound. From a cost perspective, the current price increases may not fully offset the existing cost pressures, but they have at least maintained a positive upward trend, which is crucial for stabilizing the industry’s operation.
IV. Future Outlook: Short-Term Stability with Modest Upside Potential
Regarding the subsequent market trend, Yang Xun believes that regardless of the supply-demand dynamics, this round of titanium dioxide price hikes has established a clear upward direction, setting a positive tone for the industry in early 2026. In the short term, it may stimulate an immediate increase in new orders, but downstream buyers still hold strong price resistance sentiment, and the price hikes may also pre-consume some future demand.
Some producers plan to reduce or suspend production in January 2026, aiming to both alleviate cost pressures and stabilize market prices. In the near term, the implementation of the current price adjustment notices will take time, and even after full implementation, titanium dioxide prices are expected to remain at a relatively moderate level. The market is likely to enter a phase of relative stability, with a low probability of price declines.
Qi Yu, an analyst, noted that as of late December 2025, the tax-inclusive ex-factory price of domestic rutile titanium dioxide ranged from RMB 12,400 to 13,600 per ton, and anatase titanium dioxide ranged from RMB 11,800 to 12,200 per ton. Despite active price hikes by enterprises, their losses have not been fully covered.
After two consecutive rounds of price increases, downstream users and distributors have already stocked up in advance, with some enterprises’ orders scheduled until January or February 2026. In terms of foreign trade, driven by overseas holiday stocking demand, overall orders have improved significantly, and some factories have achieved remarkable results in inventory reduction, with new order quotations remaining firm.
It is worth noting that six enterprises have reduced or suspended production in December. Although the increased operating load of major plants is expected to drive up the capacity utilization rate, some enterprises still plan maintenance in January. Currently, market sentiment is dominated by a wait-and-see attitude, and new order prices are expected to see slight increases.
V. Key Takeaways
The seventh round of titanium dioxide price hikes in late 2025 is a direct response to the dual pressures of soaring raw material costs and tight supply. While downstream resistance may limit the magnitude of price increases, the upward trend is expected to continue in the short term supported by persistent cost pressures and phased demand. For enterprises in the industrial chain, closely monitoring raw material price dynamics and supply-demand changes will be crucial for grasping market opportunities. For more in-depth industry insights and product information, visit our titanium dioxide dedicated page.
