Negotiations on the contract prices of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in Europe in the first quarter of 2017 gradually begin to market the upward price trend on the background of limited supply, has put pressure on the discussion of quotations, sources told ICIS market.

So, over the past few weeks, some vendors separately announced their intention to raise the price of EUR150 or EUR200 per tonne from January 1, 2017. There were also discussions on price increases EUR120 per ton, said one of the buyers. However, this information has not been confirmed by the producers.

Some market players have expressed their assumptions about what TiO2 prices will go up on the European market in the first quarter of next year in connection with the need for manufacturers to restore the profitability of production, which is currently suffering due to increased raw material quotations and current limitations in supply.

conversations that imports into Europe from Asia is also not compete on prices due to the current currency exchange rate at the moment, which will help support the initiative of European manufacturers to increase prices also go on the market.

However, some customers have acknowledged that the rise in prices of titanium dioxide to EUR100 per ton or a little above it is possible in the first quarter of 2017.

In the fourth quarter of this year, TiO2 prices on the European market are in the range of EUR2,01-2,31 kg (EUR2 010-2 310 per tonne) FD NWE (delivery in North-Eastern Europe), which is for EUR50-100 ton higher than the previous quarter