Quick answer: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) — the coatings industry's most important white pigment — went through repeated price increases in China in 2026, even though demand stayed weak. After China's National Day holiday in early October, the market settled into a stalemate: limited downside, but little upward momentum. For paint makers, the best defence is not only in purchasing but in formulation, dispersion and hiding-power control.
How TiO2 prices moved in 2026
- Early in the year: Major producers such as LB Group, Chemours and Tronox announced increases of about US$100/tonne for both sulfate- and chloride-process TiO2, citing high sulfur/sulfuric-acid costs and tight chloride supply.
- August: Chinese sulfate-process rutile fell from about RMB 15,500 to RMB 14,100/tonne (−9.1%).
- September: LB Group led a new round — +RMB 700/tonne domestic and +US$100/tonne export — and more than 20 producers followed within days. It was reported as the sixth collective price adjustment of 2026 for China's TiO2 sector.
- Early October: Prices held at pre-holiday levels. According to SMM (8 Oct 2026), sulfate rutile was around RMB 12,500–14,800/tonne and chloride-process TiO2 RMB 15,300–16,800/tonne, holding up better.
China's TiO2 exports for January–August 2026 reached about 1.36 million tonnes, up ~14% year on year. Domestic demand, however, was weak and the September peak season fell short of expectations — analysts expect only modest further gains, with the main risk being cooler demand after October restocking.
Why are prices rising while demand is weak?
- Cost floor: Many plants were already selling at or below cost, leaving little room to cut.
- Output cuts: High inventories pushed many plants to curtail production; operating rates at times fell below 70%.
- Shrinking global capacity: Around 600,000 tonnes of capacity was reported to have closed permanently over the past year.
- Energy costs and trade shifts: Oil prices and anti-dumping measures in several markets are redirecting trade flows.
What it means for paint makers in Vietnam
TiO2 is often one of the most expensive raw materials in white and pastel formulations. Many Vietnamese paint makers buy TiO2 from China, so every price move hits cost of goods directly. When switching supplier or grade (sulfate ↔ chloride) to save money, the usual risks are a shift in white undertone, lower hiding power and changes in gloss.
5 ways to hold costs without sacrificing quality
- Optimise dispersion: TiO2 only delivers full hiding power when particles are evenly dispersed, not agglomerated. Poor dispersion means using more TiO2 for the same opacity. A lab disperser such as DISPERMAT helps optimise speed, time and blade before scale-up.
- Check fineness of grind: Use a grind gauge to confirm each batch reaches the target dispersion.
- Measure hiding power objectively: Measure contrast ratio on byko-chart opacity charts when reducing TiO2 or changing source — rather than judging by eye.
- Control whiteness with a spectrophotometer: Compare L*, b* and ΔE between old and new TiO2 to catch undertone shifts early (see: What is ΔE?). A portable instrument such as Spectro2go measures colour and 60° gloss together.
- Review additives: The right wetting and dispersing additives stabilise pigment particles and reduce flooding/floating and flocculation — helping optimise TiO2 loading.
A view from K&K Chemical
Raw-material price swings are outside a paint maker's control; what can be controlled is how efficiently each kilogram of pigment is used. K&K Chemical supplies additives for paint formulations and BYK-Gardner instruments — from dispersers and grind gauges to colour meters — so you can optimise your formulas with data.