Anti-dumping tariffs on TiO2 from China 2026: what changes for importers and manufacturers

Key data

If your company imports titanium dioxide from China, or if you manufacture paints, plastics, paper or cosmetics using TiO2 as a raw material, this regulation affects you directly from 17 September 2026. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2064 amends Regulation (EU) 2025/4, which established definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of TiO2 originating from China, adjusting the rates applicable to certain Chinese exporters or groups of companies.

TiO2 is the most widely used white pigment in industry: it is present in paints, coatings, plastics, paper and cosmetics. Its import price has a direct impact on the margins of manufacturers and distributors throughout the value chain.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2025/4 imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of titanium dioxide originating from China, with the aim of protecting European TiO2 manufacturers from unfair competition. The new Regulation (EU) 2026/2064 amends that framework, introducing adjustments to the duty rates applicable to certain Chinese exporters or groups of companies.

The adjustments may involve increases or decreases in the applicable rate depending on the specific Chinese exporter. Therefore, it is not enough to know the general rate: each importer must verify what rate applies to the specific supplier they operate with.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this amendment translates into three concrete areas for companies:

• Supply cost: A change in the anti-dumping duty rate applicable to the usual Chinese supplier can increase or decrease the cost of each tonne imported. Since TiO2 is a raw material used on a massive scale, even variations of a few percentage points have a significant effect on margins.
• Customs declarations: Importing companies must update the applicable rates in their customs management systems to avoid incorrect settlements that could result in retroactive claims by Customs.
• Risk of penalties: Non-compliance with anti-dumping duties—whether by applying an incorrect rate or by not correctly declaring the origin—can result in customs penalties and retroactive claims, as expressly established by the regulation.

European TiO2 manufacturers, for their part, benefit from this protection against unfair competition from China, which helps sustain their competitive position in the domestic market.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of titanium dioxide (TiO2) originating from China: must review the duty rates applicable to their suppliers.
• Manufacturers of paints and coatings that use TiO2 as the main white pigment.
• Plastics manufacturers that incorporate TiO2 as an additive or pigment.
• Paper industry that uses TiO2 in the paper manufacturing or coating process.
• Cosmetics manufacturers that use TiO2 as an ingredient (sunscreen, makeup).
• Customs operators and customs agents who manage import declarations for Chinese TiO2.
• European TiO2 manufacturers: benefit from the maintained and adjusted anti-dumping protection.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish industrial paint manufacturer that regularly imports TiO2 from a Chinese supplier. Until now, it applied the anti-dumping duty rate established in Regulation (EU) 2025/4 for that specific exporter.

With the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2026/2064 on 17 September 2026, that rate may have been adjusted upwards or downwards. If the company does not update the rate in its customs declarations and continues to settle with the previous rate:

• If the new rate is higher: Customs will detect insufficient settlement and claim the difference plus possible interest and penalties.
• If the new rate is lower: the company will have overpaid, with the resulting financial loss and the need to request a refund.

In both cases, the immediate action is the same: verify the updated rate for the specific Chinese exporter in the text of Regulation (EU) 2026/2064 and update the customs management systems before the next import.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify the Chinese exporter that your company operates with and locate the anti-dumping duty rate that applies to it in the text of Regulation (EU) 2026/2064, published on 18 September 2026.
2. Compare the new rate with the previous one (Regulation (EU) 2025/4) to quantify the impact on the cost per tonne imported.
3. Update customs management systems with the correct rate before the next import declaration, to avoid incorrect settlements.
4. Review supply contracts with Chinese suppliers: if the customs cost varies significantly, it may be necessary to renegotiate terms or pass the impact on to the selling price.
5. Consult with a customs agent or specialized advisor to verify that the tariff classification and declared origin are correct, as non-compliance can result in customs penalties and retroactive claims.
6. Evaluate alternative suppliers (European TiO2 manufacturers or suppliers from third countries not subject to anti-dumping) if the increase in costs makes importing from China unviable.

Official source

Consult the complete regulation in the official source — Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2064, EU Official Journal

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602064