No Surprise - Paint Prices Will Continue to Climb
April 24, 2011 | 
With increasing world market demand for titanium dioxide, it is no surprise that paint prices will continue to climb.
From Wall Street Journal - April 22, 2011
"Prices of titanium dioxide -- used in plastics, paper, toothpaste and sunscreen as well as in paint -- have surged to between $1.15 and $1.30 a pound from around 90 cents to 95 cents in mid-2009, according to TZ Minerals International, a consulting firm based in Perth, Australia. Eric Bender, a consultant at TZMI, said titanium dioxide prices are likely to jump another 10% to 20% by year end and more than 10% in 2012.
Mining companies haven’t invested heavily in production of titanium ore in recent years, and some chemical companies have closed or idled plants that turn the ore into titanium dioxide. It will take a few years for the industry to gear up to meet demand, Mr. Bender said. The biggest sources of the ore are in South Africa, Australia and North America."