In the global industrial materials landscape, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is renowned as the "industrial monosodium glutamate" due to its exceptional whiteness, opacity, and weather resistance. It is widely used in coatings, plastics, papermaking, printing inks, and emerging sectors such as new energy. In recent years, amid global economic recovery, tightening environmental policies, and the rapid growth of the new energy industry, the titanium dioxide sector is undergoing a profound transition from “volume expansion” to “quality-first” development.
 
Leveraging deep industry expertise and a forward-looking research approach, China Research and Intelligence has released the "2024-2029 China Titanium Dioxide Industry Market In-depth Research and Investment Strategy Forecast Report." This report offers industry participants valuable insights into market fluctuations, technological innovation trends, and future investment opportunities.
 
Drawing on the core perspectives of this report, this article provides a detailed analysis of the current state, trends, and challenges within the titanium dioxide market, delivering a practical and in-depth industry guide for readers.
 
I. Market Dynamics: The Dual Symphony of Capacity Expansion and Demand Divergence
 
Capacity Expansion: The "Growth Paradox" of the Global Production Leader
As the world’s largest titanium dioxide producer, the nation commands over 60% of global production capacity. Recent years have witnessed rapid industry expansion, fueled by policy incentives for the chemical sector from local governments, sustained corporate capital investment, and emerging opportunities from global supply chain restructuring.
 
Yet this growth masks twin challenges: overcapacity and structural imbalance. The current titanium dioxide market exhibits a competitive pattern where industry leaders consolidate dominance while small and medium-sized players face narrowing operational space, driving notable concentration within the sector.
 
Major enterprises have enhanced their cost advantages through mergers and acquisitions of regional smaller capacities, building integrated operations spanning titanium mining, titanium dioxide production, and downstream applications. Conversely, many smaller manufacturers—burdened by rising environmental compliance costs, constrained financing options, and delayed technological upgrades—are being forced to exit, accelerating market reshuffling.
 
Diverging Demand: Slowdown in Traditional Sectors vs. Breakout in Emerging Fields
 
The demand structure of titanium dioxide is undergoing profound transformation. Growth in the traditional architectural coatings market has noticeably slowed, weighed down by declining real estate investment. In contrast, high-end sectors such as automotive OEM paints and industrial anticorrosive coatings—where performance requirements for titanium dioxide are more stringent—are maintaining steady demand growth.
 
More notably, breakthroughs are being made in the application of titanium dioxide in emerging fields. For instance, in the new energy vehicle industry, titanium dioxide serves as a key precursor material for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Its purity and particle size distribution directly impact battery energy density and cycle life. Leading companies such as CATL and BYD have incorporated high-grade titanium dioxide into their supply chains. In the photovoltaic sector, modified titanium dioxide is used as a backsheet coating material that significantly enhances the weather resistance of PV modules, making it a key procurement item for companies like LONGi Green Energy and Jinko Solar.
 
China Research and Intelligence predicts that over the next five years, the new energy sector will become the core engine of titanium dioxide demand growth, with its share of consumption expected to rise substantially.
 
Price Volatility: Cost-Driven Pressures and the Dynamic Balance of Supply-Demand Relations
 
The market price of titanium dioxide is influenced by multiple factors including raw material costs, market demand, and the international trade environment, leading to characteristic fluctuations. In recent years, tight supply of titanium concentrate and persistently rising sulfuric acid prices have kept production costs elevated, driving market prices higher at the beginning of the year. However, since the second quarter, China’s titanium dioxide exports have faced obstacles due to overseas anti-dumping policies, compounded by weak global economic recovery dampening demand, resulting in downward pressure on market prices.
 
Analysis by China Research and Intelligence suggests that future titanium dioxide market prices will reflect a dialectical unity of short-term volatility and long-term growth. Although the industry currently faces challenges such as overcapacity and price pressure, stable fundamental demand from traditional sectors like global coatings and plastics, coupled with steadily expanding demand from emerging fields such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaics, will provide strong support for market prices.

 
II. Technological Innovation: Dual Drivers of Chloride Process and Smart Manufacturing
 
Chloride Process: Dual Enhancement of Environmental Benefits and Product Performance
Titanium dioxide production primarily employs two processes: the sulfate method and the chloride method. The sulfate method, which uses titanium concentrate as raw material, offers mature technology and lower costs but suffers from high energy consumption and significant pollution. In contrast, the chloride method utilizes titanium ore as feedstock and achieves a substantial reduction in impurities through high-temperature gas-phase reactions, resulting in superior whiteness and dispersibility compared to the sulfate process. This makes it the mainstream technology for high-end coatings and cosmetic-grade titanium dioxide.
 
According to China Research and Intelligence, as environmental regulations tighten and the new energy industry expands, the chloride process is gradually replacing the sulfate method as the industry standard. Leading domestic companies have broken through core technological barriers in chloride process production via independent R&D, significantly increasing per-line capacity and achieving product quality nearing international standards. For instance, LB Group’s chloride process production lines have markedly improved premium product yield, while the cost of domestically produced catalysts has been substantially reduced, driving down prices of high-end titanium dioxide to more reasonable levels.
 
Smart Manufacturing: Dual Assurance of Efficiency Gains and Cost Optimization
Intelligent production represents another critical trend in the technological innovation of the titanium dioxide industry. By integrating industrial internet, big data, and artificial intelligence technologies, companies can achieve real-time monitoring and optimization of production processes, reducing energy consumption and operational costs. For example, one enterprise’s smart factory employs digital twin technology to simulate production processes, significantly lowering equipment failure rates and substantially boosting production efficiency.
 
China Research and Intelligence anticipates that over the next five years, smart manufacturing will become widespread across the titanium dioxide industry, driving notable improvements in efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, intelligent production will enable flexible manufacturing, allowing companies to respond swiftly to shifting market demands and enhance their competitive edge.

 
III. Future Trends: Dual Strategies of Green Transition and Global Layout
 
Green Transition: Dual Pressures from Environmental Policies and Market Demand
Driven by global "dual-carbon" goals and stringent environmental regulations, the titanium dioxide industry is undergoing a profound shift from "scale expansion" to "green transformation." China Research and Intelligence highlights that the industry will fully enter a phase of "green competition," where enterprises must achieve zero emissions through technologies such as waste acid recycling and by-product resource utilization, or establish zero-carbon factories equipped with photovoltaic power generation and hydrogen energy storage systems. For example, one company has significantly increased the share of green electricity in its production energy mix by building its own photovoltaic power station, markedly reducing carbon emission intensity and setting a benchmark for green transition in the industry. Furthermore, innovative directions such as bio-based titanium dioxide and biodegradable packaging are emerging. These technologies not only help companies meet increasingly strict environmental requirements but also open new market opportunities and enhance brand premium capabilities.
 
Global Layout: Dual Responses to Trade Barriers and Market Diversification
In response to challenges such as international trade friction and anti-dumping duties, Chinese titanium dioxide companies are accelerating their global expansion strategies to enhance international influence through technology exports and brand building. China Research and Intelligence analysis indicates that over the next five years, Chinese enterprises will significantly increase their market share in emerging regions such as India and Southeast Asia. For instance, CNNC Titanium Dioxide has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Nippon Paint to secure large customer demand, while LB Group is investing in a chloride process project in Saudi Arabia to serve local petrochemical and architectural coating markets. Simultaneously, by participating in the formulation of international standards and acquiring well-known overseas brands, companies are gradually shedding the label of "low-price competition" and transitioning towards "value-based competition."

 
IV. China Research & Intelligence's Insights: Providing a "Navigation System" and "Telescope" for Decision-Makers
 
As a leading institution in China's industrial consulting sector, China Research & Intelligence has built profound research expertise in the titanium dioxide industry. Its recently released "2024–2029 China Titanium Dioxide Industry Market In-Depth Research and Investment Strategy Forecast Report" not only systematically outlines the industry's current status and competitive landscape but also delivers three core values to enterprises through its unique three-dimensional analysis model integrating policy, market, and technology:
 
1. Strategic Navigation:
      In-depth analysis of the stable demand fundamentals in traditional sectors such as coatings and plastics, alongside the explosive growth potential in emerging fields like new energy vehicles and photovoltaics, enables enterprises to precisely target their markets.
2. Risk Early Warning:
      A comprehensive risk assessment system covering international trade friction, tightening environmental policies, and raw material price fluctuations helps companies formulate effective response strategies.
3. Ecosystem Development:
      Proposing a synergistic development path of "technology positioning, green transition, and global layout" supports enterprises in transforming from single-product suppliers to integrated solution providers.
 
A executive from a titanium dioxide enterprise remarked:
"The report from China Research & Intelligence, with its detailed data and penetrating analysis, enabled us to proactively invest in chloride process technology and smart manufacturing, resulting in a significant year-on-year increase in related business revenue."
This case exemplifies the practical value of China Research & Intelligence's research.
Conclusion: The Future of the Titanium Dioxide Industry Belongs to Integrated Competitors Balancing "Technology + Cost + Service"
 
The titanium dioxide industry is currently undergoing a transition from "scale expansion" to "quality prioritization." On one hand, environmental policies are accelerating industry consolidation and phasing out outdated production capacity. On the other hand, technological breakthroughs in fields such as new energy and high-end manufacturing are injecting new vitality into the sector. However, challenges such as uneven resource distribution, cost pressures, and intensifying international competition remain significant.
 
Moving forward, the industry must embrace green and low-carbon development as its core principle, leveraging technological innovation to reduce energy consumption and pollution while expanding into high-value-added application areas. The report by China Research & Intelligence offers valuable insights into the industry's current landscape and future trends, making it essential reading for relevant enterprises and investors.
 
As emphasized in the report:
"The transformation of the titanium dioxide industry is not only a 'battle for survival' against short-term challenges but also a 'leap in value' towards long-term opportunities."
 
In this era of change, companies that can capitalize on breakthroughs in chloride process technology, smart manufacturing, and green transformation—while deepening their presence in emerging sectors like new energy vehicles and photovoltaics—will build comprehensive competitiveness integrating technology, cost, and service. These players are poised to lead the industry toward a brighter and more prosperous future.
 
Leveraging a professional data research framework, China Research & Intelligence systematically collects, organizes, and deeply analyzes vast amounts of industry information to provide customized data solutions and strategic decision-making support for diverse clients. Through scientific analytical models and industry insight systems, we assist partners in effectively managing investment risks, optimizing operational cost structures, identifying potential business opportunities, and continuously enhancing their market competitiveness.
 
For further cutting-edge industry insights and professional research findings, please refer to the latest report by China Research & Intelligence:
"2024-2029 China Titanium Dioxide Industry Market In-Depth Research and Investment Strategy Forecast Report."
Combining global perspectives with local practices, this report serves as an authoritative reference for strategic planning.
 
Source:2025中国钛白粉行业：产能扩张与需求分化的双重变奏_中研普华_中研网 (chinairn.com)