Chemical Materials Year-End Review: TiO₂, Fluorochemicals and New Materials — Export Signals and 2026 Policy Outlook

Summary

As 2025 closes, chemical materials markets are being reshaped by two forces moving in parallel: downstream demand normalization (coatings, construction, electronics, new energy) and policy-driven trade frictions (anti-dumping actions, carbon compliance and supply-chain rules). This year-end review highlights key developments across Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂), fluorochemicals, and selected new materials, and outlines the most important market and policy variables heading into 2026.

I. Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) — Trade Friction Redefines Export Strategy

EU trade measures remained a major constraint on TiO₂ flows in 2025. The European Commission imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on TiO₂ imports from China in January 2025, raising barriers to direct access into the EU market.

Export strategy increasingly diversified: suppliers have leaned more heavily into non-EU destinations and channel restructuring, while balancing compliance costs and customer qualification requirements. CCM’s own market commentary notes CBAM-related pressure as a growing factor in trade decision-making, even where TiO₂ is not always at the center of early CBAM coverage.

Downstream demand signals (coatings/plastics) stayed uneven through late 2025, with buyers favoring flexible procurement and tighter inventories, limiting broad price upside.

II. Fluorochemicals — New Energy and Refrigeration Drive “Two-Speed” Demand

In 2025, fluorochemicals continued to show two-speed demand:

New energy / advanced materials: demand remained anchored by battery and electronics supply chains (e.g., PVDF and related value-chain products), supporting higher-spec product focus. (PVDF market tracking continues to emphasize multi-year growth tied to energy storage and industrial applications.)

Refrigerants: policy compliance and product transitions (toward lower-GWP refrigerants) remain a structural driver. Regional regulatory tightening around HFC controls also reinforces compliance requirements for cross-border trade.

For 2026, the key question is not simply “volume,” but mix and compliance: producers with credible lifecycle data, cleaner power sourcing, and stable feedstock integration will be better positioned in premium segments.

III. New Materials — Export Growth Meets Higher Compliance and Controls

“New materials” exports in 2025 benefited from ongoing demand in electronics, clean energy, automotive lightweighting and high-performance polymers, but exporters also faced a higher bar on:

Carbon and product-level disclosures, especially for EU-facing value chains where embedded emissions are increasingly scrutinized.

Supply-chain governance and export controls in strategic materials and technologies, which can affect availability, lead times, and customer procurement confidence.

This pushes the market toward data-backed selling: product traceability, verified carbon accounting, and stable compliance documentation become commercial advantages—not just legal requirements.

IV. 2026 Policy & Market Outlook — What Changes “Cost and Access”

1) CBAM tightening becomes more operational in 2026

The EU’s CBAM shifts from transition toward the next phase beginning in 2026, and recent EU communications signal efforts to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement, including extensions to downstream products and tougher handling of under-reported emissions. The EU also states CBAM’s definitive regime applies from 2026 (following the 2023–2025 transitional period).

Implication: even when a material is not directly targeted, downstream customers may impose carbon-data requirements and prefer lower-emission supply chains.

2) Trade remedies remain a live risk

The TiO₂ anti-dumping case shows that materials can face sudden cost shocks and market-access changes from trade investigations.

Implication: exporters should keep contingency plans for market switching, third-country processing, and contract pricing clauses.

3) Demand: “application-led recovery” over broad cycles.In 2026, demand recovery is more likely to be application-led.

• coatings and construction: tied to regional project cycles and consumer confidence
• electronics: tied to inventory cycles and high-end qualification
• new energy: tied to policy incentives and capacity utilization

For deeper datasets on export flows, regional demand indicators, and policy impact modeling, please refer to:

• CCM Titanium Dioxide China Monthly Report
• CCM Fluorine China Database / Monthly Report
• CCM New Materials Market Briefing

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