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Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a white inorganic compound widely used as a pigment in paints, coatings, plastics, paper and cosmetics. It is valued for its brightness, high refractive index and ability to scatter light, making it the most important white pigment in industrial applications. The compound is produced primarily from two mineral sources: ilmenite and rutile, both of which are titanium-bearing ores extracted through mining operations. Titanium dioxide is manufactured through either the sulphate process or the chloride process, with the latter being more environmentally efficient and increasingly preferred by major producers. The pigment accounts for approximately 90% of global titanium consumption, with the remainder used in titanium metal production and other specialised applications. Major producing regions include China, which dominates global output, as well as Australia, South Africa, Canada and Norway. Demand for titanium dioxide is closely tied to construction activity, automotive manufacturing and consumer goods production, making it sensitive to economic cycles. The market is characterised by a small number of large multinational producers alongside numerous smaller regional manufacturers. Pricing is influenced by raw material availability, energy costs and environmental regulations governing production processes. The compound is chemically stable, non-toxic and approved for use in food and pharmaceuticals, contributing to its widespread adoption across diverse industries.

Titanium Dioxide News


Heavy mining trucks
Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project, Australia – update
16th October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Rare earths and mineral sands company VHM Limited has signed a nonbinding term sheet with Japanese trading and investment company Mitsui for the acquisition up to 65 000 t/y of heavy mineral... 


Goschen project area
VHM commits half of incoming heavy mineral concentrate to Mitsui
12th October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Australian rare earths and mineral sands developer VHM has signed a non-binding term sheet with Japanese trading and investment company Mitsui for the purchase of up to 65 000 t/y of heavy mineral... 


Titanium ore
Empire Metals' upgraded MRE confirms Pitfield project as world's largest titanium resource
19th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Aim-listed Empire Metals has confirmed the Pitfield titanium project, in Western Australia, as the world's largest titanium resource in an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE). The upgraded MRE... 


Image of South Africa map/flag
Titanium beneficiation complex, South Africa – update
24th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Construction of the first-phase titanium dioxide pigment plant has started. 


Nyanza CEO Donovan Chimhandamba with Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer at Coatings for Africa.
$870m ilmenite beneficiation project enters construction phase at Richards Bay IDZ
17th July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The construction of the first phase of the Nyanza Light Metals plant to advance ilmenite up the value curve in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment has begun at the Richards Bay Industrial... 


Piles of rare earths
Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project, Australia – update
10th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

VHM Limited has entered into an agreement with fellow-listed Iluka Resources for the long-term supply of all planned rare-earth concentrate. 


Nyanza CEO Donovan Chimhandamba with Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer at Coatings for Africa.
$870m ilmenite beneficiation project enters construction phase at Richards Bay IDZ
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The construction of the first phase of the Nyanza Light Metals plant to advance ilmenite up the value curve in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment has begun at the Richards Bay Industrial... 


Empire Metals' Pitfield titanium project in Western Australia
Empire Metals confirms premium titanium dioxide, alumina production viability in Pitfield flowheet
11th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Aim-listed Empire Metals has completed an integrated metallurgical processing flowsheet for the Pitfield titanium project, in Western Australia, capable of producing a premium 99% titanium dioxide... 


The Walviskop HMS project site
Whale Head Minerals signs PSA over South African project
26th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Aim-listed Kazera Global's subsidiary Whale Head Minerals has entered into a binding production sharing agreement with South African mineral processing group Rare Earth Minerals International... 


Image of a box of rare-earth samples
Zulti South project, South Africa
8th May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Mineral sands producer Richards Bay Minerals plans to start construction on the project imminently. 


Image of South Africa map/flag
Zulti South project, South Africa – update
17th April 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) and Voltalia announced on April 8, 2026, that the Bolobedu Solar Farm, in Limpopo, had reached commissioning. The renewable power will be supplied to RBM’s KwaZulu-Natal... 


VHM opts for full-scale development of Goschen rare earths project
VHM opts for full-scale development of Goschen rare earths project
23rd March 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

Exploration and development company VHM has approved a shift to full-scale development of its Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project in Victoria, abandoning a previously planned staged... 


DMPR Minister Gwede Mantashe
DMPR welcomes Rio Tinto’s investment in Zulti South project
4th March 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has welcomed the announcement by mining giant Rio Tinto that its subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) will proceed with an R8.5-billion... 


An image of Rio Tinto Africa iron and titanium MD and RBM MD Werner Duvenhage
Rio Tinto approves R8.5bn Zulti South investment, lifts project suspension
2nd March 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Mining major Rio Tinto has approved its subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals’ (RBM’s) Zulti South project, lifting the suspension which had been in place since January 2020. The about R8.5-billion... 


AfDB funding South African titanium beneficiation project
14th November 2025 By: Rebecca Campbell

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that its board of directors has approved financing of $75-million for South Africa-based company Nyanza Light Metals. The funding will support the... 


Iluka shares slump after suspending Cataby, SR2 production
Iluka shares slump after suspending Cataby, SR2 production
10th September 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

Shares in Australia's Iluka Resources slumped 13% on Wednesday after the mineral sands producer said it would suspend operations at its Cataby mine and Synthetic Rutile Kiln 2 (SR2) in Western... 


Rio Tinto weighs future of Richards Bay Minerals, Quebec’s RTIT and US mine
Rio Tinto weighs future of Richards Bay Minerals, Quebec’s RTIT and US mine
27th August 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

Mining major Rio Tinto has placed its Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operations in KwaZulu-Natal, along with its Canadian iron and titanium operations and US borates mine, under strategic review as... 


Image broadens post-Atlas development pipeline
Image broadens post-Atlas development pipeline
1st August 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

ASX-listed Image Resources has unveiled plans to expand its project development pipeline beyond the recently commissioned Atlas mineral sands project in Western Australia, as part of a strategy to... 


Rio Tinto expects to be the world's fourth biggest copper miner before the end of the decade.
Rio Tinto sees copper at upper-end of guidance, reports strong Q2 performance
16th July 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

Diversified miner Rio Tinto Group delivered a strong second-quarter operational performance, with group-wide copper equivalent production up 13% year-on-year, underpinned by solid gains across its... 


Kazera’s South African project continues to perform well
3rd July 2025 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Kazera Global says operations at its Whale Head Minerals (WHM) heavy mineral sands (HMS) project, in South Africa, continue to progress well, with new processing infrastructure... 


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pqt: 0.085s - ct: 0.136s - 275pq - 2rq
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