Titanium dioxide prices varied across the Asia-Pacific region in this quarter. The supply disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine made the supply of the feedstock titanium concentrate even more problematic, and in the first half of the second quarter, a bullish market outlook prevailed. The decline in TiO2 market values in India has also been backed by a decline in demand from downstream industries like automotive and construction.

One of the main challenges that manufacturers face when it comes to buff percentage is ensuring consistency. Variations in the level of coating on titanium dioxide particles can lead to differences in color, opacity, and other properties in the final product. This can be especially problematic in industries such as paint and coatings, where consistency is critical for achieving the desired results.

According to the EFSA's Expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings 2021 opinion regarding titanium dioxide, it could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity from ingestion of the material based on a perceived gap in data on this risk, which serves as the basis for current ban, said a March report on the decision.