Paints & Coatings Raw Materials Hub
TiO₂, carbon black, iron oxides, extenders, solvents, plasticisers, glycols and resins for paint plants
A paint plant buys one high-cost white pigment and a long tail of extenders, binders and solvents around it. Titanium dioxide is the single highest-volume pigment in coatings and about 31% of all pigment tonnage used as coatings raw materials (American Coatings Association); world TiO₂ pigment consumption passed 7.8 million tonnes in 2025 with paints and coatings taking more than half (Fibre2Fashion / AlChemPro). Raw materials are more than half of a coatings maker's operating cost (IMARC), so the prime pigment is stretched with calcium carbonate, talc, kaolin and barytes at 0.4 to 4 parts extender per part of hiding pigment in white and light-tint house paints, and the film is built from acrylic, vinyl-acetate or epoxy binders carried in water, xylene, toluene or glycol ethers. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 3206.11 (TiO₂ pigments, 80% or more TiO₂) total USD 9.1 billion and about 3.5 million tonnes across 88 reporters.
CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers this basket from pigment plants, mineral grinders, aromatics units and resin makers in China, India, Europe, the USA, South Korea and Southeast Asia to paint factories in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America. Every lot ships against the producer's certificate of analysis to the grade standard named on the order (ASTM D476 for TiO₂, ASTM D561 for carbon black, ISO 1248 for iron oxides, ISO 3262 for extenders, ASTM D843 and D841 for xylene and toluene), with SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling at load where the buyer asks. Pigments and extenders move palletised in 25 kg bags or 1 MT big bags in 20-ft containers, solvents and glycols in ISO tanks or parcel-tanker lots, and resins in drums, IBCs or flexitanks; LaycanDesk fixes the tanker parcels and any breakbulk mineral lots.
Procurement & Freight Structure
Dual-loop execution: physical commodity brokerage + ocean charterparty.
One desk for the pigment, the extender basket and the solvent parcel, with LaycanDesk fixing the ISO-tank and parcel-tanker legs so the grind, let-down and thinning inventories arrive together.
Procured Feedstocks & Maritime Profiles
Each raw material is contracted on chemical purity, physical particle sizing, and mandatory IMO/IMSBC code stowage factors to prevent liquefaction or contamination.
| Feedstock | Grade & Purity Spec | Form / Carriage | IMSBC Code | Stowage Factor | Typical Parcel | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Dioxide Pigment (Rutile & Anatase)TiO₂ | ASTM D476 Type II rutile ≥ 92% TiO₂; Type III/IV ≥ 80% TiO₂ (surface-treated); Type I anatase | Dry white powder, chloride or sulphate process | Group C | Containerised – per pack (Containerised – per pack) | 20 – 22 MT per 20-ft container (25 kg bags / 1 MT big bags, palletised) | Spec →Ship → |
| Pigment Carbon BlackC | ASTM D561 paint-grade carbon black; jetness to DIN 55979 | Powder or beaded black; fine primary particle for high jetness | Group C | Containerised – per pack (Containerised – per pack) | 8 – 12 MT per 20-ft container (bags on pallets) – confirmed per grade and pack | Spec →Ship → |
| Synthetic Iron Oxide Pigments (Red, Yellow, Black)Fe₂O₃ / FeOOH / Fe₃O₄ | ISO 1248; red 130-type Fe₂O₃ ≥ 96% | Dry micronised powder | Group C | 16 cu.ft/MT (bulk) · 47 cu.ft/MT (drums) (0.45 m³/t (bulk) · 1.34 m³/t (drums)) | 20 – 24 MT per 20-ft container (25 kg bags / 1 MT big bags) | Spec →Ship → |
| Extenders: Ground Calcium Carbonate, Talc, Kaolin & BarytesCaCO₃ / Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ / Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ / BaSO₄ | ISO 3262 parts 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 · GCC ≥ 98% CaCO₃ · barytes to 98% BaSO₄ · kaolin ≥ 90% kaolinite | Dry micronised powders, coated or uncoated; calcined kaolin | Group C | 47 cu.ft/MT (precipitated CaCO₃, bagged) (1.34 m³/t (precipitated CaCO₃, bagged)) | 24 – 26 MT per 20-ft container (big bags); breakbulk lots by Handysize | Spec →Ship → |
| Mixed Xylene & Toluene (Coatings Solvents)C₈H₁₀ / C₇H₈ | ASTM D843 nitration-grade xylene; ASTM D841 toluene ≥ 98.8% wt | Clear flammable liquids (UN 1307 xylenes, UN 1294 toluene – Class 3) | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Liquid – by tank; SG 0.86 – 0.87 (Liquid – by tank; SG 0.86 – 0.87) | 1,000 – 5,000 MT parcel-tanker lots; 20 – 24 MT ISO tanks | Spec →Ship → |
| Plasticisers & Glycols (DOP/DOTP, DINP, MEG, PG)C₂₄H₃₈O₄ (DOP) / C₂H₆O₂ (MEG) / C₃H₈O₂ (PG) | Per plasticisers-glycols spokes; MEG fibre/industrial grade; PG industrial or USP | Clear liquids in ISO tanks, flexitanks, IBCs or drums | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Liquid – by tank (Liquid – by tank) | 20 – 24 MT ISO tank; 1,000 – 3,000 MT parcel lots | Spec →Ship → |
| Binders: Acrylic & VAE Emulsions, Epoxy Resins | Emulsions per spokes; liquid bisphenol-A epoxy EEW 182 – 192 g/eq | Aqueous dispersions (IBC, drum, flexitank); liquid epoxy (drum, IBC) | Group C | Containerised – per pack (Containerised – per pack) | 18 – 22 MT per 20-ft (IBCs/drums); flexitank for emulsions | Spec →Ship → |
Titanium Dioxide Pigment (Rutile & Anatase)
Rutile grades for exterior and industrial coatings, anatase for interior flat paints and low-cost primers. Classified to ASTM D476 by TiO₂ content and surface treatment; EU-bound Chinese origin carries the anti-dumping duties in force since 11 January 2025, with the investigation reopened on 25 August 2026.
Pigment Carbon Black
Speciality blacks for tinting pastes, black topcoats and primers. ASTM D561 covers solvent extractables, colour and tinting strength, ash, heating loss and sieve residue; jetness rises as primary particle size falls and oil absorption number (OAN) indicates structure and ease of dispersion.
Synthetic Iron Oxide Pigments (Red, Yellow, Black)
Laux-process and precipitated iron oxides (C.I. Pigment Red 101, Yellow 42, Black 11) for primers, floor paints, roof coatings and tinters. Specified to ISO 1248; a standard red 130-type grade carries Fe₂O₃ 96% min, oil absorption 24–28 g/100 g, density 5.0 g/ml, pH 3–7.
Extenders: Ground Calcium Carbonate, Talc, Kaolin & Barytes
The extender basket that stretches TiO₂ and builds film volume. Paint-grade GCC runs 98% CaCO₃ min with 95–96% brightness; talc D50 5–15 µm with 5–8% loss on ignition; calcined kaolin above 90% ISO brightness with 80%+ below 2 µm; white barytes to 98% BaSO₄. Kaolin is on the kaolin-and-ball-clay spoke and barytes on the barite spoke; talc has no page yet and is quoted on request.
Mixed Xylene & Toluene (Coatings Solvents)
Aromatic thinners for alkyd, epoxy and PU systems. Mixed xylene is the four C₈H₁₀ isomers with ethylbenzene, specified to ASTM D843 (non-aromatics, acid-wash colour, copper corrosion, distillation range); toluene to ASTM D841. Toluene is a UN 1988 Table II precursor, so pre-export notification applies on the destination's list.
Plasticisers & Glycols (DOP/DOTP, DINP, MEG, PG)
Plasticisers flex vinyl and PVC-based coatings and sealants; ethylene and propylene glycol are the antifreeze and open-time additives in latex paints and, with coalescents, the main VOC contributors in a waterborne formulation. MEG is on the petrochemicals hub, DEG and PG on the plasticisers-glycols hub.
Binders: Acrylic & VAE Emulsions, Epoxy Resins
Pure and styrene acrylics and vinyl-acetate ethylene (VAE) emulsions for decorative paint, and liquid bisphenol-A epoxy for primers, floor and protective coatings. Standard liquid epoxy runs EEW 182–192 g/eq at 8,000–13,000 mPa·s (25°C); epoxy has no page yet and is quoted on request.
Ocean Chartering & Laycan Programme
Plant downtime and demurrage at loading/discharge terminals can rapidly exceed commodity trading margins. LaycanDesk synchronizes vessel size matching, Notice of Readiness (NOR) tenders, and continuous laytime tracking.
COA & Maritime Execution Rules
Containerised Pigments: Dry Boxes and Moisture Control
TiO₂, iron oxides and extenders travel palletised in 25 kg bags or big bags in 20-ft dry containers. Clean, dry, odour-free boxes with intact seals; desiccant and kraft liners on long tropical transits to protect brightness and flow.
Solvent Parcels: IBC Code and Tank Compatibility
Xylene and toluene are Class 3 flammables under the IMDG Code (UN 1307, UN 1294) and carried in bulk under MARPOL Annex II / IBC Code chemical tankers. LaycanDesk matches tank coating, previous cargo and nitrogen padding to the grade before nomination.
Grade Certificates at Load
Each pigment lot ships with the producer's certificate of analysis against the named standard (ASTM D476, D561, ISO 1248, ISO 3262); SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling at load where the buyer specifies it.
Trade Measures on Pigments and Minerals
EU anti-dumping duties of €0.25 to €0.74/kg apply to Chinese TiO₂ since 11 January 2025 with an anti-absorption investigation reopened on 25 August 2026; India moved Grade A and B baryte to DGFT licensing in 2026 while CDW grade stays free. The CJEU upheld the annulment of TiO₂'s EU inhalation-carcinogen classification on 1 August 2025.
- • Shanghai, Ningbo & Qingdao (China – TiO₂, iron oxides, barytes, carbon black)
- • Mundra, Kandla & Nhava Sheva (India – carbon black, talc, GCC, iron oxides)
- • Antwerp & Rotterdam (Europe – TiO₂, emulsions, epoxy, solvents)
- • Houston & New Orleans (US Gulf – TiO₂, glycols, solvents)
- • Ulsan & Yeosu (South Korea – xylene, toluene, resins)
- • Port Klang & Singapore (Southeast Asia – emulsions, glycols, kaolin)
- • West & East Africa (Lagos, Tema, Abidjan, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam)
- • North Africa & Eastern Mediterranean (Alexandria, Casablanca, Mersin, Izmir)
- • South Asia (Karachi, Chittagong, Colombo, Nhava Sheva)
- • Southeast Asia (Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila)
- • Latin America (Santos, Cartagena, Callao, Veracruz)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBIL supply the whole grind and let-down basket for a paint plant?
Yes. We quote the TiO₂, carbon black and iron oxide pigments, the calcium carbonate, talc, kaolin and barytes extenders, the xylene and toluene thinners, glycols and plasticisers, and the acrylic, VAE or epoxy binders as separate lines against one delivery calendar, so the box, ISO-tank and parcel-tanker legs land together.
Which TiO₂ type should a decorative paint plant specify?
ASTM D476 Type II rutile (≥ 92% TiO₂) for low-to-medium PVC exterior and trim paints; Types III and IV (≥ 80% TiO₂, heavier surface treatment) for high-PVC flat interiors; anatase Type I where cost matters more than chalk resistance. The producer's TDS states oil absorption, brightness and tint strength.
How are solvents and glycols shipped?
Small volumes in 20 – 24 MT ISO tanks on liner services; plant-scale volumes as 1,000 – 5,000 MT parcels on IMO 2/3 chemical tankers fixed by LaycanDesk under ASBATANKVOY or BIMCHEMVOY 2008 terms. Toluene is a UN 1988 Table II precursor and carries pre-export notification where the destination requires it.
What are the payment and document terms?
Irrevocable letter of credit at sight or confirmed terms as agreed, against clean on-board bills of lading, producer's certificate of analysis, certificate of origin, packing list and SDS; independent inspection certificate where specified.
Explore Other Industrial Hubs
Fertilizer Manufacturing Raw Materials Hub
Integrated procurement hub for phosphoric and complex fertilizer plants. Sourcing rock phosphate, recovered elemental sulphur, merchant-grade sulphuric acid, anhydrous ammonia, and potash under continuous Handysize, Supramax, and chemical parcel tanker Contracts of Affreightment (COA).
Steel Mill FeedstocksSteel Mill Raw Materials & Metallics Hub
Integrated blast furnace and EAF melt-shop raw material hub. Sourcing iron ore fines/pellets, coking coal, metallurgical coke, heavy melting scrap (HMS 1&2), DRI/HBI, ferroalloys, and limestone flux under Panamax, Ultramax, and Supramax ocean charter programmes.
Cement FeedstocksCement & Clinker Manufacturing Hub
Raw materials and clinker supply hub for standalone grinding stations and integrated cement works. Sourcing grey clinker, natural gypsum 85–92%, cement-grade limestone, and granulated blast furnace slag under geared Handysize and Supramax charter contracts.
Aluminum Smelter FeedstocksPrimary Aluminum Smelter Hub
Integrated supply chain hub for Hall-Héroult aluminum smelters and Bayer-process alumina refineries. Brokering metallurgical bauxite, calcined smelter-grade alumina, liquid caustic soda 50%, and calcined petcoke under Ultramax, Panamax, and chemical parcel tanker charter programmes.
Foundry FeedstocksFoundry & Casting Raw Materials Hub
Raw material basket hub for grey, ductile and steel casting foundries. Brokering foundry and nodular pig iron, foundry coke, ferrosilicon and manganese alloys, silica, chromite and zircon moulding sands, sodium bentonite, flake graphite, refractory grain and melting scrap in Handysize bulk parcels, jumbo bags and containers.
Glass Batch FeedstocksGlass Manufacturing Raw Materials Hub
Batch-house procurement hub for float, container, tableware and fibreglass furnaces. Brokering low-iron silica sand, dense soda ash, glass-grade limestone and dolomite, feldspar and nepheline syenite, anhydrous sodium sulphate and calcined alumina in Handysize and Supramax bulk parcels and containerised jumbo bags.
Feed Mill FeedstocksFeed Mill Raw Materials Hub
Raw material basket hub for poultry, ruminant and aquafeed mills. Brokering feed corn, wheat, barley and sorghum, soybean meal, DDGS, palm kernel expeller, rice bran, fishmeal and fish oil, cane molasses, lysine, methionine and threonine, MCP/DCP, choline chloride, feed limestone, salt and vitamin premixes — a plant, marine and mineral basket with halal-certified sources specified for any animal-derived ingredient.
Paper Mill FeedstocksPaper & Packaging Mill Raw Materials Hub
Procurement hub for integrated and non-integrated paper, board and tissue mills. Sourcing bleached kraft pulp (BHKP and NBSK), dissolving pulp, recovered paper (OCC 11 and DS OCC 12), coating kaolin, ground and precipitated calcium carbonate, native and modified starch, AKD and rosin size, caustic soda, sodium sulphate, hydrogen peroxide and polyethylene coating resin, with breakbulk, container and parcel-tanker freight quoted through LaycanDesk.
Battery FeedstocksBattery & Energy Storage Raw Materials Hub
Procurement hub for cathode and anode material plants, cell makers, stationary-storage integrators and lead-acid battery factories. Sourcing spodumene concentrate, lithium carbonate and hydroxide, MHP and nickel matte, cobalt hydroxide, battery-grade manganese sulphate, natural flake and spherical graphite, electrolytic copper foil and cathode aluminium foil, refined lead and antimony, and carbonate electrolyte solvents, with bulk, container and ISO-tank freight quoted through LaycanDesk.
Drilling FeedstocksOil & Gas Drilling Fluids and Well Materials Hub
Procurement hub for drilling-fluid companies, mud plants, cementing contractors and operator supply bases. Sourcing API 13A barite (4.20 and 4.10 SG), API bentonite, hematite, sized calcium carbonate, xanthan and guar, CMC and PAC, caustic soda, soda ash, lime, calcium chloride, API 10A Class G and H cement, API 19C frac sand, MEG and low-toxicity base oil, with Handysize bulk, container and tanker freight quoted through LaycanDesk to Oman, Fujairah, the Red Sea, the US Gulf, West Africa and Southeast Asia.
Detergent FeedstocksDetergent & Home Care Raw Materials Hub
Raw material hub for powder and liquid detergent, dishwash, toilet soap and home-care plants. Sourcing linear alkylbenzene and LABSA, SLES 70%, dense soda ash, caustic soda, sodium silicate, STPP and zeolite 4A builders, anhydrous sodium sulphate, citric acid, palm-based fatty alcohols and ethoxylates, 80/20 soap noodles, palm stearin and refined glycerine, halal-certified and tallow-free.
Conductor FeedstocksWire, Cable & Electrical Conductor Raw Materials Hub
Raw material hub for wire and cable plants, rod mills, overhead-conductor makers and transformer works. Sourcing LME Grade A copper cathode, 8 mm ETP copper rod, 9.5 mm aluminium 1350 EC rod, galvanised steel core wire and SHG zinc, PVC resin and cable compounds, XLPE compound, insulated copper wire scrap for recyclers and IEC 60296 transformer oil base stock, in bundles, coils, containers and parcel-tanker lots.