Producers See Strong Market for [TiO.sub.2].

Chemical Market Reporter, May, 1999 by TULLO, ALEX

Wall Street could be overestimating the threat from inventories. WALL STREET WORRIES that this year's surge in titanium dioxide stocks may be a sign that the market will soften, but producers paint a different picture. Suppliers say the industry needs the stocks to prepare for a bustling coatings season.

Producers are optimistic that 1999 will be a good year for the white pigment. They blame stock building by customers during November and December for the demand shortfall earlier this year. They expect Huntsman's acquisition of Id PLC's global Tioxide subsidiary to further stabilize the market. This year, US inventories have increased by almost 28,000 short tons. In January, alone, they climbed by more than 20,000 tons, and in March they rose by...

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