# Titanium dioxide: Regulation

The duty war against cheap Chinese pigment

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/regulation/

What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.

#### Hazards

| Classification | UN number | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| EU harmonised classification as suspected carcinogen by inhalation (powder) was annulled by the EU General Court in 2022 (indicative); generally not classified | not regulated | Fine dust inhalation; sulphate route waste acid and copperas; chlorine handling at chloride plants. |

#### Main rules

| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **EU** | Definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese TiO2 (2025); Directive 92/112/EEC on TiO2 industry waste; E171 banned as a food additive (2022) | Protects EU producers; controls acid waste |
| **UK** | Trade Remedies Authority investigation opened June 2026; duties up to 63.66% proposed (approx. Oct 2026) | Supports Greatham restart |
| **Brazil and Saudi Arabia** | Definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese TiO2 (2025) | Benefits Tronox, the sole local producer in both |
| **US** | Tariffs 5.5% (HS 2823) and 6% (HS 3206.11) (USGS) | Modest protection |

#### India

| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| **DGTR anti-dumping case on TiO2 from China: duties $460-681/t; first notification quashed by Calcutta High Court (Sep 2025); fresh final findings 3 Aug 2026; re-imposed for five years in October 2026** | Raises landed cost 19-28% when in force |
| **Exclusions for food, pharma, cosmetics, textile fibre and nano grades below 100 nm** | Users of those grades pay no duty |
| **Atomic Minerals Concession Rules for beach sand minerals (ilmenite, rutile)** | Restrict private mining of feedstock (indicative) |

#### Trade measures

- EU, Brazil, Saudi Arabia definitive duties (2025)
- India duty recommended again Aug 2026
- UK investigation (2026)
- US tariffs 5.5-6%

#### Supply risk

Capacity is concentrated in China (61%), and Western closures raise dependence. Titanium is on US, EU and Indian critical mineral lists, mainly for the metal, but feedstock supply for pigment is also concentrated in China, Mozambique and South Africa.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/movement/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/links/index.md)