From July 7th to 8th, the 14th International Titanium and Zirconium Industry Development Summit Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian.

The forum focused on the import status and price trend of titanium concentrate, the supply and demand pattern and price trend of enriched TiO₂ materials, the domestic supply and demand pattern and price trend of zircon sand, the impact of real estate policy adjustments on the terminal consumption of zirconium and titanium in the second half of the year, and the restoration of confidence in the zirconium and titanium market under the normalization of epidemics. Leaders of government authorities, heads of domestic renowned titanium and zirconium enterprises, and industry veterans gathered in Xiamen to discuss the development.

Specially invited by the conference, Mr. Li Lvhua, Chairman of Guangdong Ubridge New Material Technology Co., Ltd. attended the conference and delivered a special speech.

Mr. Li commented that the import of raw materials was low this year with the European and American market in heat and absorbing a large quantity of raw materials supplies to the European and American market and leaving less return to China.

From the demand side, the chloride pigment titanium dioxide and titanium sponge production capacity increased, driving up the demand for enriched TiO₂ material, which was a great support. Domestic and foreign demand for enriched TiO₂ materials was strong. With many foreign manufacturers purchasing enriched TiO₂ material from China, the supply of high-quality ilmenite was small and the price was high. The weak domestic market was leaving high titanium slag enterprises under greater pressure. However, Mr. Li indicated that he believed that the increase in chloride pigment titanium dioxide and titanium sponge production capacity would likely continue to drive up the price of enriched TiO₂ materials.

As for the zirconium market, the drop in domestic zircon sand prices and low supply was due to the impact of a sluggish downstream economy. Given those international giants had already announced the price increase of the second quarter, and the demand decrease for zircon sand in 2022 was relatively small, the domestic zircon sand market would be unlikely to drop dramatically even with the influence of the overall market and off-season. The possibility of the zircon sand price rising to RMB 13,000 - 15,000 yuan/ton is low.

At the meeting, Mr. Bi Sheng, Director of the Titanium Dioxide Center of the National Chemical Industry Productivity Promotion Center, Mr. Sheng Long, Chief Representative of the Beijing Representative Office of Kenmare, Mr. Xiao Fei, General Manager of Matrix (Guangzhou) Metamaterials Co., Ltd, Mr. Dong Wen, Board Chairman of Hainan Shenghe, and Mr. Xue Peng, Vice General Manager of the Purchasing Department of Chaoyang Jinda Titanium Co., Ltd also presented their respective analyses, forecasts, and opinions on the market situation, product supply and demand, and price trends in for the second half of the year.

With the continuous expansion of production capacity, Ubridge’s influence in the domestic titanium and zirconium industry is also growing. Chairman Li Lvhua has been invited for the sixth consecutive time to make a keynote speech at the conference and provide his professional opinion on market analysis and trend forecast.