MOSCOW: Imports of titanium dioxide (TiO2) into the Russian market decreased in the first 11 months by 36% year on year, totalling 40,500 tonnes, according to MRC’s DataScope report. Overall TiO2 imports was 3,700 tonnes in November, the same as in October. The imports structure looked as follows: Chemours has significantly increased its share since 2015 and with 13,200 tonnes, it accounted for 34% of the imported material market. Kronos’ share was 17% or 6,500 tonnes. The share of Sachtleben Chemie was 12% or 4,500 tonnes of TiO2.
The share of Chinese producers that sell material in the Russian market was much lower than that of European manufacturers. This year, the Ukrainian plant SumyKhimprom did not ship TiO2 to the Russian market. Imports of TiO2 for the production of paints and coatings were 30,500 tonnes in the first 11 months of the year, or 75% of the total shipments. Imports of TiO2 for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production totalled 8,100 tonnes or 20% of the imported material. MRC, a partner of ICIS, produces polymers news and pricing reports from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
