Inventory of hot events in the titanium industry in the first half of 2024

1. Lubei Chemical Industry: it is proposed to set up a joint venture company to handle 600000 tons of zirconium-titanium ore separation project per year.

It was announced on the evening of January 22nd that in order to meet the company's demand for titanium resources, stabilize titanium dioxide production capacity, improve the company's competitiveness and profitability, and improve the company's strategic layout, the company plans to invest 16.5 million yuan to occupy 55% of the shares with Shanghai Tianbao Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. (7.5 million yuan, 25%) and Hainan Xinfu supply chain Co., Ltd. (6 million yuan). 20% share) jointly set up Shandong Lubei Zirconium Titanium New material Technology Co., Ltd.

According to the announcement, the three parties will jointly fund the establishment of a project company (limited liability company) in Wudi County, Shandong Province, in accordance with the provisions of the Company Law of the people's Republic of China. Take the project company as the main business body, build titanium concentrate, rutile, monazite and zircon sand deep processing base, mainly engaged in titanium concentrate, rutile and zircon sand processing and sales. The production capacity of the deep processing base is estimated to be 600000 tons / year. The name of the construction project is "annual processing of 600000 tons of zirconium-titanium ore cleaning project".

II. Venator announces its business transformation plan and plans to close TiO2 production in Duisburg, Germany.

In early February, Venator announced a key step in its transformation plan to dismantle 50kt titanium dioxide capacity in Duisburg, Germany, and transfer specialized production capacity to strengthen the Udingen plant in the second quarter of 2024. The Duisburg plant will continue to operate and focus on its functional additives business. Our 80kt TiO2 plant in Scalino, Italy, continues to be offline, awaiting the development of local regulation and the improvement of the TiO2 market for its products.

"We will strengthen our titanium dioxide business by strengthening our products and providing products to our customers, while restoring profit margins through pricing. In addition, we will look for opportunities to monetize the business of specific additives.

Anada: the actual controller will be changed to Yantai SASAC.

At the end of February, Tonghua Group, the controlling shareholder of Anada, signed the share transfer Agreement and the concerted Actor Agreement with Wanhua Battery. According to the above agreement, Tonghua Group intends to transfer its 32.683 million shares (accounting for 15.20% of the company's total shares) to Wanhua Battery by agreement, with a transfer price of 9.15 yuan per share and a total transfer price of 299 million yuan. If this transaction is successfully completed, the transferee Wanhua Battery will become the controlling shareholder of the company, and the actual controller of the company will be changed to Yantai SASAC.

4. Lubei Chemical Industry: it is planned to invest 719 million yuan to build a 60, 000-ton chlorinated titanium dioxide expansion project.

On the evening of March 6, 2024, Lubei Chemical (600727) issued an announcement that in order to increase the company's titanium dioxide production capacity, increase its market share and improve the company's strategic layout, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary Shandong Xianghai Titanium Resources Technology Co., Ltd. plans to invest 719 million yuan to build an annual production capacity of 60, 000 tons of chlorinated titanium dioxide expansion project.

According to the announcement, the project plans to rely on the existing installation equipment and supporting public auxiliary facilities in the existing 60,000 tons / year titanium dioxide chlorination plant, after the completion of the project, it can achieve a production scale of 60,000 tons of chlorinated titanium dioxide and 20,000 tons of chlorine per year.

5. India launches anti-dumping investigation against China's titanium dioxide

On March 28th, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a notice that India's domestic enterprises KeralaMinerals andMetalsLtd., Travancore TitaniumProducts Ltd. And VV Titanium Pigments Pvt.Ltd. The application submitted to initiate an anti-dumping investigation against titanium dioxide (Titanium Dioxide) originating from or imported from China. This case involves products under Indian Customs Code 28230010 and some items 32061110 and 32061190.

The dumping investigation period in this case is from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 (12 months). The injury investigation period is from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, and the dumping investigation period of this case.

VI. Circular of the Development and Reform Commission of Shaanxi Province on the issuance of the Action Plan for cultivating 100 billion Titanium and Titanium Alloy Industry Innovation clusters in Shaanxi Province

In early April, in order to implement the "opinions on speeding up the Construction of a Modern Industrial system with Shaanxi characteristics and promoting High-quality Development" and "the implementation Plan for promoting the Construction of Industrial Innovation clusters and speeding up the formation of New quality Productivity in Shaanxi Province", seize the development opportunities of titanium and titanium alloy industry, solidly promote the cultivation of 100 billion-grade titanium and titanium alloy industrial innovation clusters, speed up the formation of new productive forces, and constantly shape new momentum for high-quality development. Combined with the reality of our province, we specially formulate the "Action Plan for cultivating hundreds of billions of Titanium and Titanium Alloy Industry Innovation clusters in Shaanxi Province".

Please base on the local reality, deeply analyze the current situation of industrial innovation and development, implement the "five systems" and "six ones" working mechanism for the development of detailed industries, highlight projects, promote innovation, strengthen the main body and excellent ecology, guide specialized parks to do a good job in the cultivation of titanium and titanium alloy industry innovation clusters, and formulate corresponding action plans and submit them to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission in time.

It is proposed to raise 1.045 billion yuan, and the titanium alloy expert Jintian Titanium Industry will make efforts to expand production.

In early April, Hunan Xiangtou Jintian Titanium Industry Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as Jintian Titanium Industry) successfully passed the Shanghai Stock Exchange Co., Ltd. Kechuang Board Municipal Committee meeting, the IPO process is a step further.

This time, Science and Technology Innovation Board IPO, Jintian Titanium Industry plans to raise 1.045 billion yuan, of which 745 million yuan will be used for the advanced titanium alloy project for high-end equipment (phase I). After the project reaches full production, it will form an annual production capacity of 2800 tons of titanium alloy bars and 2800 tons of titanium alloy forging billets.

80 billion grade titanium resources comprehensive utilization project settled in Panzhihua, Sichuan to help build a world-class vanadium and titanium industrial base

On May 7th, Sichuan Panzhihua Vanadium-Titanium High-tech Zone and Shenzhen Nabi Chemical Group Co., Ltd. signed an investment contract for the annual comprehensive utilization of 4.3 million tons of high-titanium blast furnace slag. The project plans to invest 12.08 billion yuan, and the annual output value will reach 16.5 billion yuan after completion, with about 3000 new jobs added. After completion, it will promote the comprehensive utilization of titanium resources in Panzhihua to a new level and provide strong support for Panzhihua to speed up the construction of a world-class vanadium and titanium industrial base.

Among them, the first phase is to build a demonstration production line for high-quality comprehensive utilization of 300000 tons of high-titanium blast furnace slag per year; the second phase is to build a standard production line for high-quality comprehensive utilization of 1 million tons of high-titanium blast furnace slag per year; the third phase is to build three standard production lines for high-quality comprehensive utilization of 1 million tons of high-titanium blast furnace slag per year.

Ishihara, Japan plans to close the titanium dioxide plant by the end of March 2027.

On May 23, Japan's Ishihara (ISK) announced that its board of directors had approved a plan to restructure its inorganic chemicals business and would permanently close its sulfuric acid production base in Yokkaichi, Japan by the end of March 2027.

As the only manufacturer in Japan, Ishihara, Japan will vigorously promote the transformation of the production structure of functional materials centered on electronic component materials while continuing to fulfill its supply responsibilities for chlorinated titanium dioxide products.

Japan Ishihara will consolidate its revenue base by reviewing product portfolio organization, sales and R & D strategies, and optimize overall business operations to accelerate the transition to high-function, high-value-added products, including new products. In order to minimize the inconvenience that may be caused by stopping sulfuric acid production, the plant will continue to be operated until the end of March 2027 and the possibility of forming alliances with other companies will be studied.

10. Comus suspends titanium dioxide production at its Mexican factory

On May 31, as a severe drought affected most of Mexico, Chemours "global chemical company Altamira(NYSE:CC) announced today that it will comply with government requirements and temporarily reduce water intake, which led to the suspension of production on its Altamira titanium dioxide production line. Titanium dioxide is a water-saving production facility in surrounding communities.

Due to the uncertainty of uncontrollable factors, Comus is currently unable to predict the duration of the event.

11. Japan's Toho Titanium Industry closed factory after explosion

After the June 9 explosion, Japan's Toho Titanium suspended operations at its Chigasaki plant near Tokyo and stopped production of titanium sponge and catalysts.

A company representative said it was not clear what caused the incident, but an investigation by the country's authorities was ongoing. The representative said it was unclear how long the outage would last and how it would affect the company's production, adding that there had been no casualties so far.

The company produces titanium sponge and polyolefin catalysts at its Chigasaki plant, although the company did not disclose which specific facility the explosion occurred. According to the representative, the company produces 9600 tons of titanium sponge per year at its Chigasaki plant.