LB Titanium Dioxide Plant Acquisition Revives UK TiO2 Pigment Capacity

LB TiO2

LB titanium dioxide plant ownership has expanded into the UK after China’s largest TiO2 producer acquired the Greatham pigment manufacturing site from Venator Materials UK. The acquisition gives LB Group a European production base for titanium dioxide pigments used in coatings and plastics.

LB titanium dioxide plant operations at Greatham are expected to restart this year through Tioxide, a new wholly owned subsidiary. The move gives LB direct manufacturing capacity in the UK at a time when European buyers are reassessing supply security, trade exposure and regional pigment availability.

LB titanium dioxide plant expansion also strengthens the company’s global position. LB Group already has combined TiO2 capacity of 1.51mn t/yr, making it the world’s largest titanium dioxide producer.

The transaction follows a $69.9mn purchase agreement signed with Venator in October 2025. The UK Competition and Markets Authority cleared the acquisition on 23 April.

Greatham Restart Adds Regional Pigment Supply

The Greatham site will manufacture TiO2 pigments for coatings and plastics. These are core industrial markets where titanium dioxide provides whiteness, opacity, brightness and durability.

Restarting the facility could improve regional availability for European and UK customers. It also allows LB to serve some customers from within the market rather than relying only on exports from China.

This matters because TiO2 is widely used in construction coatings, packaging, automotive coatings, plastics, inks and consumer goods. Supply disruptions or trade restrictions can quickly affect downstream manufacturers.

The acquisition also gives LB a strategic foothold in a mature industrial market. Owning European production assets can help the company manage customer relationships, regulatory requirements and product qualification more directly.

For the UK, the deal could preserve TiO2 pigment manufacturing capacity at a site previously owned by Venator. The key question will be how quickly LB can restart operations and secure stable feedstock, labour and customer demand.

Trade Remedies Add Strategic Complexity

The acquisition comes as the UK Trade Remedies Authority investigates imports of rutile titanium dioxide from China. That investigation adds a trade-policy dimension to LB’s European expansion.

Billions Europe, an LB subsidiary, has requested that ink-grade TiO2 be excluded from the case. The request shows how product-specific distinctions can become important in anti-dumping proceedings.

For LB, owning a UK production site may help reduce exposure to import-related trade measures. Local production can also support customers that prefer regional supply or need more predictable delivery.

However, the broader TiO2 market remains highly competitive. Producers face pressure from energy costs, raw material availability, environmental rules, demand cycles and trade remedies.

The Greatham restart will therefore test more than acquisition execution. It will test whether a Chinese producer can use a UK manufacturing asset to strengthen its position in European pigment markets while navigating trade scrutiny.

The Metalnomist Commentary

LB’s Greatham acquisition shows that Chinese materials producers are not only exporting more; they are buying production footprints inside target markets. For TiO2 buyers, the deal could improve local availability, but trade policy will remain a major factor shaping supply routes.

Kenmare Moma Titanium Minerals Mine Cuts Workforce as Mineral Sands Market Weakens

Kenmare Resources

Kenmare Moma Titanium Minerals Mine is facing a sharper restructuring phase as Kenmare Resources moves to cut 15% of the workforce at its Moma complex in Mozambique. The decision reflects weaker mineral sands market conditions, lower projected revenues, and pressure from operational setbacks during 2025.

The company also suspended its 2025 final dividend and booked a $301.1 million impairment charge. Kenmare linked the impairment to an uncertain pricing outlook and updated assumptions around the renewal terms of Moma’s mining licence with Mozambique’s government.

Kenmare Moma Titanium Minerals Mine produces heavy mineral concentrates including ilmenite, zircon, and rutile. These materials supply titanium dioxide pigment, ceramics, welding, and titanium feedstock markets, making Moma an important asset in the global mineral sands chain.

WCP A Commissioning Issues Hit Production and Cash Flow

Kenmare’s 2025 results were heavily affected by the Wet Concentrator Plant A upgrade at Moma. The project drove capital spending higher, while commissioning problems reduced production volumes and limited sales.

The group’s net debt rose six-fold to $159 million at the end of 2025. The increase reflected major investment in the WCP A upgrade at a time when weaker output and lower shipments reduced cash generation.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation fell 63% on the year to $58 million. The decline shows how quickly operational disruption can affect earnings when market conditions are already weak.

Market oversupply also weighed on ilmenite and zircon prices despite steady underlying demand. This left Kenmare exposed to both lower sales volumes and weaker pricing across key mineral sands products.

Licence Renewal and 2026 Recovery Shape Moma Outlook

The renewal of the Moma Implementation Agreement remains a major strategic issue. The agreement, which covers Kenmare’s mineral processing and export activities with Mozambique’s government, expired in 2024.

Kenmare applied to restart the agreement in 2022, and negotiations are still ongoing. The company said talks in mid-February made constructive progress, but final terms remain important for long-term valuation and investor confidence.

There are signs of operational recovery in early 2026. By the end of the first quarter, WCP A was regularly operating at its nameplate ore feed processing capacity of 3,500 t/hr, although some production issues continued.

Shipments are tracking in line with the run-rate needed to meet 2026 guidance. Kenmare has also drawn down finished stockpiles to manage capital, suggesting the company is prioritising liquidity while it stabilises production at Kenmare Moma Titanium Minerals Mine.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Kenmare’s workforce cut shows that mineral sands producers are under pressure from both price weakness and project execution risk. Moma’s recovery will depend on stable WCP A performance, stronger titanium feedstock pricing, and a clearer licence framework in Mozambique.

RBM Mineral Sands Expansion Extends Rio Tinto’s Zircon and Ilmenite Supply

Rio Tinto Blue Horizon

RBM mineral sands expansion approval gives Rio Tinto a longer supply runway for zircon and ilmenite from its Richards Bay Minerals operation in South Africa. The $473mn Zulti South project is designed to extend mined supply as ore grades and availability decline at the existing Zulti North lease area.

Rio Tinto owns 74pc of Richards Bay Minerals, while Blue Horizon holds 24pc. RBM currently operates four mines in the Zulti North lease area, alongside a mineral separation plant and smelting facility. Construction at Zulti South is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and take around 30 months.

RBM mineral sands expansion is expected to support production from the fourth quarter of 2028. The project aims to extend RBM’s operations to 2050, giving the business a longer-term role in global mineral sands supply.

Zulti South Restarts After Earlier Security and Community Delays

The Zulti South project was originally approved in April 2019, but Rio Tinto later suspended development because of security and community issues. The new approval shows that the company is prepared to move forward after a long delay.

This history matters because mineral sands projects depend not only on geology and capital, but also on stable operating conditions. Community relations, security, permitting, logistics, and site reliability can determine whether high-quality deposits become dependable supply sources.

RBM mineral sands expansion also reflects the need to replace declining ore supply at Zulti North. As mature ore bodies deplete, producers must invest in new mining areas to maintain feedstock availability for separation, smelting, and downstream customers.

Zircon and Ilmenite Supply Supports Industrial and Titanium Markets

Zircon and ilmenite are important industrial minerals with strategic downstream uses. Zircon serves ceramics, refractories, foundry applications, and specialty industrial products. Ilmenite and rutile are key feedstocks for titanium dioxide production, which is widely used in pigments, paints, coatings, plastics, and paper.

Titanium dioxide feedstock also connects the mineral sands market to titanium metal supply chains. While pigment remains the dominant demand driver, titanium-bearing minerals ultimately support industries tied to aerospace, chemicals, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Rio Tinto’s approval therefore strengthens a long-term feedstock position in a market where mine life, jurisdictional stability, and processing integration matter. The expansion gives RBM a clearer path to remain a major supplier of mineral sands into the middle of the century.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Rio Tinto’s Zulti South approval shows that mineral sands supply security depends on long-cycle mine replacement, not short-term price movements. The strategic value lies in extending zircon and ilmenite availability before mature deposits tighten the feedstock pipeline.

Iluka Cataby rutile pause underscores weak pigment demand

Iluka

The Iluka Cataby rutile pause highlights how weak pigment demand is reshaping global heavy mineral supply. Iluka Resources will halt mining at Cataby and pause its nearby synthetic rutile kiln in Western Australia. The Iluka Cataby rutile pause begins on 1 December and responds directly to subdued titanium dioxide pigment demand. As a result, Iluka prioritises flexibility and can restart operations quickly if rutile demand improves.

Iluka Cataby rutile pause shifts production toward zircon and new projects

The Iluka Cataby rutile pause redirects attention to the group’s other Australian mineral sands assets. Iluka will suspend the 225,000 t per year SR2 kiln for six months from December. It will also halt Cataby mining for one year while maintaining restart readiness at both sites. Meanwhile, Iluka keeps its 350,000 t per year Jacinth Ambrosia zircon mine running in South Australia. The company also continues commissioning at Balranald, a next generation project due online in late 2025.

Weak pigment market pressures rutile and zircon producers

Weak pigment demand lies at the core of the Iluka Cataby rutile pause and similar industry cutbacks. High interest rates, macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitics weigh on construction and coatings activity worldwide. Iluka notes particularly soft demand linked to real estate weakness, which curbs titanium dioxide pigment consumption. As a result, producers adjust output to protect margins rather than chase volumes in an oversupplied market.

Other heavy mineral producers face similar pressure as rutile and zircon prices struggle to hold recent gains. Some Chinese zirconium titanium operations suspended output in mid July as pricing and demand turned less attractive. US titanium dioxide producer Troxon also closed a 90,000 t per year pigment plant in March. Therefore, the Iluka Cataby rutile pause fits a broader trend of rationalising pigment related mineral capacity.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Iluka’s decision shows how even tier one mineral sands assets must flex output when downstream demand underperforms. If pigment markets stabilise and construction recovers, current curtailments could tighten rutile availability faster than expected. Market participants should watch Balranald’s ramp up and any restart signals from Cataby for early cycle indicators.

Beneath the Growth: Ferro-Titanium(Fe-Ti) Market Enters Cooling Phase in 2025

Ferro-Titanium

Once a core beneficiary of aerospace and specialty steel demand, ferro-titanium now faces dual pressure from weakening demand and excess supply.

At the Foundation of Steel, Cracks Begin to Show

As of September 2025, leading market analysts still forecast a 4–5% annual growth rate for the ferro-titanium market, citing robust demand in aerospace, high-performance steels, and defense-grade alloys. But on the ground, reality paints a more sobering picture.

The global steel industry is struggling. A perfect storm of China’s low-cost exports, persistent weakness in downstream sectors, and U.S. tariff uncertainties has significantly dented confidence. Particularly hard hit are the automotive, shipbuilding, and plant engineering sectors, leading to a sharp decline in ferro-titanium consumption.

The result: a continued slide in spot prices, leaving suppliers grappling with margin pressure and inventory overhang.

Dual Shock: Demand Contraction Meets Supply Glut

Ferro-titanium is a specialty ferroalloy additive used in steelmaking to remove oxygen and nitrogen impurities, refine grain structure, and enhance both strength and corrosion resistance. It is indispensable in the production of titanium alloys for aerospace, stainless steels, and corrosion-resistant superalloys.

However, softening demand is now converging with a surge in cheap ilmenite and rutile feedstock imports, the ramp-up of new smelting capacity, and rising inventories, triggering a classic oversupply scenario. Some traders have resorted to panic selling, driving spot prices below long-term contract levels.

Not All Ferroalloys Are Created Equal

This downturn is not symptomatic of the entire ferroalloy market. While ferro-molybdenum (FeMo) prices are also under pressure due to steel sector weakness, the ferro-vanadium (FeV) market remains relatively buoyant—buoyed by growing demand for high-strength steel and new applications in energy storage technologies (e.g., vanadium redox flow batteries).

This divergence underscores a key truth:

Ferroalloy markets live or die by the uniqueness of their end-use demand.

Products that rely solely on steel cycles are inherently more volatile. In contrast, those with diverse, high-value downstream applications offer resilience—and in some cases, opportunity.

Long-Term Vision Intact, But Short-Term Survival Comes First

Industry experts agree:

"A meaningful rebound in ferro-titanium prices is unlikely until inventories normalize and downstream sectors recover."

Yet the long-term fundamentals remain intact. Demand from aerospace, defense-related high-performance steels, urban air mobility (UAM), and electric vehicles continues to build. Today’s correction may in fact be a strategic inflection point.

For producers with technological capabilities and diversified market access, this downturn could be a launchpad for future leadership. Moreover, as environmental regulations tighten, ferro-titanium producers with recycling-based production systems may gain a structural edge. In the long run, quality will matter more than quantity.

After all, ferro-titanium is essential for manufacturing materials that must not fail—only the strongest will do.

The Metalnomist Commentary

“This is not chaos. It is purification. Only the technologically armed will dominate the next cycle.”

The ferro-titanium market is undergoing a painful but necessary correction. But there is method in the madness. Suppliers rooted in high-value end markets, with a reputation for premium quality and the ability to serve global niches, will emerge as the next leaders.

This is a time for endurance. And in metals, quality is always the final destination.

Pangang Boosts Vanadium and Titanium Dioxide Output in 2024 Amid Price Decline

Pangang Group

Pangang Increases Output of Vanadium and Titanium Dioxide

Pangang Group, China’s third-largest titanium dioxide producer, raised output in 2024 despite lower spot market prices. The company produced 252,900t of titanium dioxide, up 0.8% year-on-year, including 26,900t via chlorination. Vanadium pentoxide output rose by 7.3% to 53,400t, while sulphate titanium slag production fell 6% to 181,800t.

Revenue Falls Despite Strong Output Gains

Pangang’s 2024 revenue fell by 8.2% year-on-year to 13.2 billion yuan ($1.82 billion), hit by weaker vanadium and titanium prices. The company’s current capacities include 1.8 million t/yr for titanium concentrate, 220,000 t/yr for slag, and 300,000 t/yr for titanium dioxide. Chlorination-based production contributes 75,000 t/yr, showing Pangang’s focus on high-purity product diversification.

2025 Targets Set Higher for Titanium Dioxide

Pangang plans to produce 52,500t of vanadium pentoxide and 290,000t of titanium dioxide in 2025. Of the total, 64,500t will be chlorination-grade material, while titanium slag output is forecasted to hit 192,000t. Meanwhile, export prices for 93% rutile-grade material rose to $2,100–2,150/t fob China, tracking domestic price strength.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Pangang’s output growth amid a low-price environment reveals a strategic push to preserve market position. While profitability took a hit, the company’s expanded production and chlorination investment could position it well for a rebound in global demand. Titanium and vanadium markets should monitor Pangang’s moves closely in 2025.

Energy Fuels Reports 2024 Loss on Acquisition Costs, But Advances in Rare Earths Signal Long-Term Strategy

Energy Fuels

U.S. Miner Eyes NdPr Qualification, Expands Heavy Mineral Sands Sales After Australian Acquisitions

Energy Fuels Posts $48 Million Loss in 2024 Amid Strategic Expansion into Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Markets

Energy Fuels, a U.S.-based critical minerals producer, swung to a $48 million net loss in 2024, compared with a $99.76 million profit in 2023. The loss stemmed primarily from one-time acquisition and integration expenses tied to the purchase of Base Resources and its Donald Project in Australia. These expenses totaled $10.34 million and included increased operating costs from inherited personnel and reclamation liabilities.

Despite the financial dip, the acquisitions have significantly expanded Energy Fuels' footprint in heavy mineral sands and rare earth elements (REE), positioning the company for long-term strategic growth.

Heavy Mineral Sands Sales Strengthen While Rare Earth Separation Advances in Utah

In 2024, the company sold 17,529 tonnes of rutile, 48,302 tonnes of ilmenite, and 2,477 tonnes of zircon, generating $39.87 million in revenue from its mineral sands segment. The assets acquired include Kenya’s Kwale project, Madagascar’s Toliara project, and the Donald Project in Victoria, a joint venture with Astron Resources containing zircon, ilmenite, and untapped REEs.

Meanwhile, at its White Mesa Mill in Utah, Energy Fuels completed Phase 1 commissioning of its rare earth separation circuit, producing 38,000 kg of NdPr and 9,000 kg of high-purity heavy RE carbonates (including samarium and others). The company has sent NdPr samples to magnet manufacturers, seeking qualification for permanent magnet use, a key precursor to securing long-term offtake agreements.

Pathway to 60,000 t/yr Throughput and Expanded REE Output

The company is now updating its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for White Mesa to increase monazite feed capacity to 60,000 tonnes per year. The proposed upgrade targets annual output of 6,000 tonnes of NdPr, 150–225 tonnes of dysprosium, and 50–75 tonnes of terbium. The newly commissioned Phase 1 circuit accounts for about 17% of the full capacity, equivalent to 10,000 t/yr of monazite feed.

With rising geopolitical pressure to localize critical minerals supply chains, Energy Fuels continues to diversify away from uranium and strengthen its vertical integration in rare earths and heavy minerals.

Iluka Resources Reduces Heavy Mineral Production in 2024 Amid Global Economic Slowdown

Iluka Resources

Iluka Resources, an Australian mining company, has reported a 22% decline in its combined output of zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile for 2024. The company produced 496,200 tons of heavy minerals, a drop from the previous year despite an increase in production during the October-December quarter. Several factors contributed to this decrease, including slowdowns in construction, particularly in the United States, and a weakening demand for pigments. These market conditions led to reduced demand for Iluka’s key products in both the zircon and rutile markets.

Declining Demand in Key Markets Contributes to Reduced Output

Zircon production saw the most significant drop, falling by 31% to 277,200 tons, primarily due to reduced demand from Chinese and U.S. ceramics manufacturers. Additionally, seasonal weaknesses in the European ceramics market further impacted production levels. During the fourth quarter, zircon output also decreased by 29% despite a slight overall increase in heavy mineral production.

Synthetic rutile production similarly faced a downturn, with a 19% decrease in overall output to 211,200 tons. This reduction followed a slower construction sector in the U.S., which dampened pigment demand. Although production picked up in the fourth quarter, especially for synthetic rutile, Iluka had to pause operations at two Western Australia rutile plants in October 2023 due to weak demand and scheduled maintenance.

Outlook for 2025: A Modest Production Forecast Amid Uncertainty

Looking ahead to 2025, Iluka has set a cautious output guidance of 495,000 tons of heavy minerals, lower than 2024’s production figures. This forecast includes 270,000 tons of rutile and synthetic rutile and 225,000 tons of zircon. The company attributes this conservative projection to ongoing global economic uncertainties and slower-than-expected recovery in demand from key markets.

Despite these challenges, Iluka remains hopeful that changes in global trade, particularly increased tariffs on Chinese imports to Europe, could drive higher demand for rutile among Western pigment producers in the coming year.

China’s Titanium Dioxide Exports to EU Face Sharp Decline Amid Steep Anti-Dumping Duties

China’s exports of titanium dioxide to the European Union are expected to see a significant downturn for the remainder of 2024 following the EU’s imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties. Announced in July, these duties include a 39.7% tariff on LB Group, 14.4% on Anhui Gold Star Group, 35% on other cooperating companies, and 39.7% on all others. The unexpectedly high tariffs have made it financially untenable for many Chinese exporters to continue their shipments to Europe, leading to widespread suspensions since July.

Exporters have reported substantial losses, with some companies halting shipments altogether. A representative from a titanium dioxide producer in Panzhihua noted, "Exporting to Europe would incur an anti-dumping duty of $800 per ton, resulting in losses even if buyers share part of the duty." Most exporters are reconsidering their position and are unlikely to resume shipments before mid-January 2025 when the European Commission might reassess the duties.

In response to the European downturn, some Chinese firms are redirecting their focus to emerging markets, including Cuba, Liberia, Botswana, and Brunei. This shift comes as global demand softens, with export prices for rutile-grade titanium dioxide plunging to their lowest levels in a year due to reduced European demand and fierce domestic competition.

Despite a 14% increase in overall exports of titanium dioxide during the first half of 2024, rising from 855,272 tons to 972,487 tons year-on-year, the current trade environment poses challenges for Chinese exporters. Exports to Europe, which accounted for 22% of the total, saw significant growth in early 2024 but now face uncertain prospects due to the new duties.