Because of fast development of global economics in 2004, the demand growth of titanium dioxide reached 8%. Jim Fisher, chairman of IBMA said that the average growth rate of global titanium dioxide is 2.2%/a, of Asian is 6.3%/a, of China is 10%, and of North America and Europe is 1.4%/a.

    Last year, the price of titanium dioxide also increased by 10%~15%. In the first quarter of 2005, manufacturers again increased by 5%~7%. Price in American market is $1 980~2 200/t and in Chinese market is $2 200~2 300/t. Gary Cianfichi, vice manager of sales department of American NihonOxirane Co., predicted that 90 000~130 000 t/a more titanium dioxide should be produced globally.

    Cianfichi said China demands 0.4 million tons titanium dioxide annually and half of them relies to import, so future production increase will centralize in China. DuPont plans to build a worldwide scale titanium factory in Dongying Industrial Zone, Shandong Province, PRC. Huntsman also considered to build a new plant in China, with annual capacity production of 50 000 t.

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