Metallurgy buyout raises competition concerns for titanium dioxide

Tronox’s anticipated purchase of TiZir Titanium & Iron (TTI) is raising competition concerns in the supply of chloride slag and titanium dioxide pigment.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has raised concerns over the buyout as both companies are involved in the supply of materials used in the production of titanium dioxide. TTI is one of the two main global suppliers of chloride slag, one of the most important minerals used to make titanium dioxide pigment and Tronox is one of the main producers of titanium dioxide pigment.

The CMA’s initial, Phase 1, investigation found that Tronox intends to use all of TTI’s chloride slag in its own production of titanium dioxide and halt future sales of chloride slag to third parties. This would leave Rio Tinto, TTI’s main chloride slag competitor, with what is effectively a monopoly position.

The CMA has found that the removal of TTI as a main competitor from the market could significantly limit customer supply and lead to higher prices for chloride slag globally, as well as for titanium dioxide in the UK and Europe. Although other minerals are available to make titanium dioxide, the CMA found that customers have limited substitutes for chloride slag.

Andrea Gomes da Silva, the CMA’s Executive Director for mergers and markets says,”Any deal that leaves one company as the only significant supplier in a market deserves closer scrutiny and, in this case, the acquisition could leave buyers and their customers facing higher prices”.

Tronox has five working days in which to address the CMA’s concerns. If unable to do so, the deal will be referred for an in-depth, Phase 2, investigation.

For more information, visit the Tronox Holdings plc / TiZir Titanium and Iron merger inquiry case page.