Is TiO2 a commodity? The answer is generally “no”, as multiple product grades serve the needs of a variety of consumers. Although certainly not a specialty, the product has been correctly described as a differentiated commodity. Is the differentiation growing?
TiPMC has recently studied this question. The differentiation among products is not only growing but impacting supply and demand. Customers and suppliers alike are recognizing inventories and pricing more as “sulfate vs. chloride”, which in reality deals more with the quality of products accepted within differential segments – and having their own supply/demand dynamics.