Titanium dioxide: Feedstocks
Why ore grade decides which process a plant can run
What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.Pigment is made from titanium minerals plus either sulphuric acid or chlorine and coke. Feed grade decides the route: low-grade ilmenite needs sulphate plants, high-grade rutile and slag suit chloride plants. Integrated miners (Tronox, Chemours via supply contracts, LB Group with Panzhihua ore) are best placed. In 2026 sulphuric acid became the swing cost for sulphate producers.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ti Titanium | 2.4-2.6 t ilmenite (sulphate) or 1.1-1.3 t high-grade feed (chloride) per t TiO2 (indicative) | titanium source | about 30-40% of cash cost (indicative) | Titanium tile; indicative |
| S Sulfur | about 3.5-4 t H2SO4 per t TiO2 (indicative) | digestion acid | about 10-15% in 2025, far more in 2026 (indicative) | Indicative |
| Chlorine (chloride route) | about 0.1-0.2 t make-up per t TiO2 (indicative) | chlorination, mostly recycled | small but supply-critical | Indicative; Project Blue (Botlek) |
| Kc Coking coal | about 0.3-0.4 t per t TiO2 (chloride, indicative) | reductant | a few percent | Indicative |
| Energy (gas for calcination and oxidation, electricity) | about 25-40 GJ per t TiO2 (indicative) | heat and power | about 15-20% (indicative) | Indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Chinese sulphate producers with domestic Panzhihua ilmenite and cheap coal power were lowest cost until the 2026 sulphur spike. Large US Gulf chloride plants with cheap gas are also low cost. European sulphate and smaller chloride plants are at the top of the curve and account for most closures.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Ti TitaniumS SulfurWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| Pnt Paints and coatings | over half of TiO2 |
| Pig Organic pigments | the largest inorganic pigment |
| Add Polymer additives | masterbatch whiteners and UV protection |
| Cat Chemical process catalysts | anatase supports for SCR DeNOx catalysts |