Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an essential ingredient used in paint and other coating formulations. As a workhorse ingredient, TiO2 offers long-lasting whiteness, brightness and opacity, making it one of the most commonly used additives for all types of coatings applications in the decorative art, food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and beauty and personal care industries. TiO2 also provides similar benefits to plastics manufacturers with the addition of its mechanical strength and electrical properties.

Although versatile, beneficial and crucial in many use cases, titanium dioxide poses many challenges to paint and plastics manufacturers.

Top of mind is the high volatility of TiO2 market pricing and reduced product availability due to global supply chain disruptions and uncertainty. Today’s market is experiencing a spike in titanium dioxide costs brought on by logistical delays from China, which supplies more than 50 percent of the world’s demand for TiO2, and increased demand for architectural paint for stay-at-home DIY projects.

In Europe, regulators consider titanium dioxide unsafe to use as a food additive, which will affect formulators who depend on titanium dioxide to improve color, texture and taste in food-grade applications.

As markets and requirements change, there are questions to consider when assessing the future of titanium dioxide in formulations for the coatings and plastics markets.

• If you are a formulator or producer for these industrial applications, are you using whatever TiO2 you’re able to procure efficiently?
• How will you mitigate these issues when the next cycle comes around to secure your operations?
• And for the brands exporting final products to the EU, are you considering recent regulations around labeling requirements for TiO2 in your products?