(ICIS) -- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) prices in Asia are likely to continue to increase in the fourth quarter, with global producers hiking offers by USD 500/tonne (EUR 365/tonne) because of tight supply and rising raw material costs, market sources said on Wednesday.
But buyers said they may not require strong volumes in the last three months of the year, having secured adequate inventory in the third quarter, when TiO2 prices had a USD 300-500/tonne increase. The majority of producers are bullish that TiO2 prices will not halt their uptrend despite the traditional slowdown in downstream demand in the fourth quarter, market sources said.
TiO2 is mainly used as white powder pigment in the production of paints, coatings, plastics, paper, inks, fibres, food and cosmetics.
Kronos was first among international TiO2 makers to announce a USD 500/tonne price hike for all its products sold in Asia Pacific, effective 1 September.