Definition of Market/Industry:
Titanium dioxide is a chemical element that occurs naturally and its pure form is fine, white powder that is used as a bright and white pigment. It has a wide range of industrial application including, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, automotive, construction, textiles, adhesives, plastic and others. It also found application across where opacity and brightness are required. Moreover, it is also used in paints and coating industry to provide opacity and durability to ensure the longevity of the paints and protection to the surface. Furthermore, high-purity grade of titanium dioxide is used in the coating of drugs and capsules.
In 2018, Australia titanium dioxide market was valued at US$ 96.2 million, in terms of revenue and 60.0 kilo tons in terms of volume.
Drivers
Rising packaging printing inks industry, especially for the food sector, is expected to serve as one of the major drivers to the Australia titanium dioxide market. For instance, in Dec 2016, DIC Corporation (Australia) announced that it is taking steps to optimize regional production facilities, as well as to expand production capacity through the installation of state-of-the-art equipment, in the anticipation of increased demand for water-based flexo inks in Asia and Oceania.
Opportunities
Rising export of the titanium dioxide by Australia is expected to serve as a strong growth opportunity to the market over the forecast period. According to the Coherent Market Insights analysis, Australia has the second-largest reserves for titanium minerals. Major share of mineral sand production is exported to various countries such as the U.S. Around 33% of mineral sand produced in Western Australia was exported to the U.S., while nearly 21% was exported to China in 2015.
Market Restraints
Titanium dioxide is a nano-form which has the biggest advantage as it can undergo a chemical reaction in sunlight, for example, the combination of water, sunlight, and titanium in nano-form results in the formation of hydroxyl radicals and these disturb the coating of the roof which can result in the rapid aging of roofs. Hence, titanium dioxide is not ideal for sun protection application and this the factor is expected to hinder the growth of Australia titanium dioxide.
Key Takeaways
Based on product type, the market for titanium dioxide is segmented into pigments and non- pigments (Titanium Metals & Welding Rods). Wherein, in 2018, pigments segment dominated the Australia titanium dioxide market in 2018, accounting for more than 90.0% share in terms of value, followed by non-pigment segment.
Market Trends
The rising adoption of sustainable technologies for the production and extraction of titanium dioxide in Australia is projected to foster the market growth. Growing concern regarding the negative impact of the environment is encouraging companies to adopt sustainable technologies and solutions. For example, Tronox’s Western Australia-based facility involved in the manufacturing of titanium dioxide has started implementing recycled and processed water to lower dependency on local potable water supply, in order to mitigate contamination risks.
The rising number of acquisition among major players for expanding their presence in the Australia titanium dioxide is expected to augment the market growth in the near future. For instance, in April 2019, Tronox Limited’s US$ 2.0 billion acquisition of titanium dioxide business. Cristal operates eight TiO2 manufacturing plants in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Cristal also operates mines in Australia and Brazil, and a research and development center and a titanium metal powder plant in the United States.
Competitive Section:
Company Profiles
Players active in the market are Tronox Limited, Iluka Resource Limited, and Cristal Australia Pty Ltd
Few Recent Developments
Iluka Resource Limited
- In May 2018, SOCIÉTÉ D’EXPLORATION MINIÈRE VIOR INC. ("Vior"), has announced that it has entered into a second option and joint venture agreement with Iluka Exploration (Canada) Ltd. ("Iluka"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iluka Resources Limited (ASX:ILU), one of the largest producers of the high-grade titanium dioxide products of rutile and synthetic rutile.
Market Taxonomy
By Mineral Grade
- Ilmenite
- Rutile
- Others (Anatase, Brookite, etc.)
By Product Type
- Pigments
- Non- pigment (Titanium Metals & Welding Rods)
By Application
- Dyes & Paints
- Plastics & rubber
- Paper
- Pure Titanium Metals & Welding Rods
- Others (Semiconductors, Gems & Jewelry, etc.)
By Region
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- Western Australia
- Rest of Australia
