New wave of TiO 2 price rises
Major suppliers have launched a new wave of TiO 2 pigment price increases. The first move was made on 10 February, when DuPont announced a $150 per tonne price increase on shipments to Middle East markets.
Then, on 19 February DuPont announced that it would raise its prices for US deliveries by $0.05 per pound and for Canadian deliveries by C$0.06 per pound. The company stated: "This price increase follows finalising the 1Q 2004 implementation of the earlier (1 October 2003) announced price increase of $0.03 per pound for TiO 2 pigment grades suitable for coatings, plastics, laminates and speciality products." DuPont also indicated that its earlier announced price rises for paper-grade TiO 2 ($0.04 and C$0.06 per pound) would be fully implemented by 1 April 2004. The latest price increases apply to paper-grade pigments as well as to all other DuPont TiO 2 pigments and should become effective as from 15 March 2004 or as soon as permitted by contract terms.
On 17 February, Kerr-McGee announced the same price increases for the US and Canada. On 20 February, Millennium made a similar announcement and on 21 February Kronos followed suit. In its declaration, Kerr-McGee also posted price rises of $0.05 per pound for Mexico and $100 per tonne for South American markets.
On 1 March, Millennium posted price increases due to become effective as from 1 April, namely: $100 per tonne in Central and South America, $150 per tonne in Asian markets and €120 per tonne (or $150 per tonne) in Middle East and African markets.
On 10 March, Kerr-McGee declared price increases of Yen 15 per kilo (or $135 per tonne) for shipments to Japan. For deliveries to other markets in the Asia/Pacific region (except Australia) prices will increase by $100 per tonne. For shipments to markets in the Middle East and Africa, prices will increase by $150 per tonne.