Tronox to close Chinese TiO2 plant

Tronox Holdings, the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of TiO2, is to close its 46,000 tonnes/year plant in Fuzhou, China, permanently, with a loss of 550 jobs. It expects to incur restructuring and other related charges of about $60-80 million, including $35-45 million of non-cash write-downs, mainly in Q4 2025, and to save about $15 million/year.

“Unfortunately, the prolonged market downturn, combined with rising production costs, eroded the financial and commercial viability of continued operations,” said CEO John D. Romano. “The closure was also necessitated by Chinese competitors’ continued excess production and unsustainable pricing.”

During Q4, the company also revealed, TiO2 volumes were 13% up on Q4 2024, primarily due to higher volumes in India and an improved market share in regions that successfully implemented anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese imports. However prices were 8% down on the previous year or 2% on Q3, excluding an unfavourable mix impact of 2% compared to Q3 resulting from higher sales to Asia.

This came within two weeks of Chemours signing a set of definitive agreements to sell the remaining land at its former TiO2 site at Kuan Yin, Taiwan to a consortium of companies active in wind power, iron and steel. The sale is expected to generate about  $360 million gross and should “substantially” close by mid-year, subject to local regulatory approval. The company will use the proceeds to reduce its debts.