Prices for titanium dioxide pigment appear to have reached a plateau as demand, particularly in the paint industry, struggles and in many cases lower than last year.
First quarter results of some of the paint making giants such as PPG and Sherwin-Williams Co. have shown a continuing downward trend in sales, mainly caused by the fall in the housing market and in the case of PPG in particular, the automotive coatings industry.
In its latest report, Australia-based TZ Minerals International Pty suggests that there will be no growth in pigment demand until 2010, which is the earliest pigment producers could see any kind of price improvement.
In its report, titled: “Pigment Price Forecast H1 2009”, the...