Tronox will reduce titanium dioxide production in the fourth quarter due to weak demand

Tronox said in its statement announcing its third quarter earnings that due to declining demand in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the US pigment producer Tronox planned to reduce its production of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the fourth quarter.

Tronox was the second titanium dioxide producer to announce production cuts in the fourth quarter.

John Dromano, co CEO of Tronox, said that due to customer destocking, continued weakness in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, and seasonal weakness in North America, the company expected titanium dioxide demand to plummet by 25-30% in the fourth quarter.

Mark Newman, CEO of Kemu, said that the demand for titanium dioxide has declined significantly and rapidly, especially in Europe and China.

Tronox and Chemours did not disclose the extent of any capacity reduction.

Chemurs said that compared with other regions, the demand for titanium dioxide in the Americas remained stable.

Tronox said that it is expected that the demand for pigments in North America will show some seasonal weakness, but it is not expected that there will be a similar destocking level as before, because the customer inventory level is still low compared with the previous economic slowdown.