TXR24 Mar 2010 00:22
Arbuthnot - 23/3/10:
Titanium Resources Group has posted an upbeat set of results for 2009, highlighting the strong performance on costs during a difficult year and pointing to tightening market conditions for its products and plans to increase rutile production by 41% to 90kt in 2010 and c.120kt in 2011. We are expecting that higher prices and production levels will return the significant rutile producer to solid profitability.
Titanium Resources Group (TRG) which produces predominately rutile, as well as ilmenite, for the titanium dioxide feedstock market, sees tightening market fundamentals as the supply side is constrained by the shutdown of capacity and a lack of new projects, which should be most acute in the premium end of the market in which TRG operates. All 2010 production is committed, with standard rutile securing prices 5% above 2009 levels. The group has seen higher demand for industrial grade rutile out of Asia, doubling sales of the premium product into Japan at a c.$100/t price premium to standard grade rutile, and seeing the company’s first bulk shipment planned for China. The group has also been producing zircon, planning the first sales in 2010, will add another revenue stream.