The world’s largest mineral sands miner, Iluka Resources, plans to raise rutile and zircon prices to record levels in the second half of 2011, far surpassing the expectations of several industry analysts.
The Australian group struck deals with customers to hike rutile prices by 70-75% for the second half of 2011, while zircon is expected to rise 35-40% in third quarter contracts.
Iluka said the average first half prices for the titanium dioxide (TiO2) feedstock rutile is about $770/tonne (FOB...