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Commitments and contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and contingencies |
Commitments and contingencies | Note 15 – Commitments and contingencies: Environmental matters – Our operations are governed by various environmental laws and regulations. Certain of our operations are and have been engaged in the handling, manufacture or use of substances or compounds that may be considered toxic or hazardous within the meaning of applicable environmental laws and regulations. As with other companies engaged in similar businesses, certain of our past and current operations and products have the potential to cause environmental or other damage. We have implemented and continue to implement various policies and programs in an effort to minimize these risks. Our policy is to maintain compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at all of our facilities and to strive to improve our environmental performance and overall sustainability. We update our Kronos Environmental Social Governance Report biennially, which highlights our focus on sustainability of our manufacturing operations, as well as our environmental, social and governance strategy. From time to time, we may be subject to environmental regulatory enforcement under U.S. and non-U.S. statutes, the resolution of which typically involves the establishment of compliance programs. It is possible that future developments, such as stricter requirements of environmental laws and enforcement policies thereunder, could adversely affect our production, handling, use, storage, transportation, sale or disposal of such substances. We believe all our manufacturing facilities are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws. Litigation matters – We are involved in various environmental, contractual, product liability, patent (or intellectual property), employment and other claims and disputes incidental to our business. At least quarterly our management discusses and evaluates the status of any pending litigation to which we are a party. The factors considered in such evaluation include, among other things, the nature of such pending cases, the status of such pending cases, the advice of legal counsel and our experience in similar cases (if any). Based on such evaluation, we make a determination as to whether we believe (i) it is probable a loss has been incurred, and if so if the amount of such loss (or a range of loss) is reasonably estimable, or (ii) it is reasonably possible but not probable a loss has been incurred, and if so if the amount of such loss (or a range of loss) is reasonably estimable, or (iii) the probability a loss has been incurred is remote. We have not accrued any amounts for litigation matters because it is not reasonably possible we have incurred a loss that would be material to our consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity. Concentrations of credit risk – Sales of TiO2 accounted for 92% of our net sales in both 2021 and 2022 and 90% in 2023. The remaining sales result from the sale of ilmenite ore (a raw material used in the sulfate pigment production process), and the manufacture and sale of iron-based water treatment chemicals and certain titanium chemical products (derived from co-products of the TiO2 production processes). TiO2 is generally sold to the paint, plastics and paper industries. Such markets are generally considered “quality-of-life” markets whose demand for TiO2 is influenced by the relative economic well-being of the various geographic regions. We sell TiO2 to approximately 3,000 customers, with the top ten customers approximating 32% in 2021, 33% in 2022 and 35% in 2023 of net sales. One customer accounted for approximately 10% of our net sales in 2022 and 12% in 2023. We did not have sales to a single customer comprising 10% or more of our net sales in 2021. The table below shows the approximate percentage of our TiO2 sales by volume for our significant markets, Europe and North America, for the last three years. ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | 2021 | ​ | 2022 | ​ | 2023
Europe |  | 46% | ​ | 45% | ​ | 44%
North America |  | 37% | ​ | 39% | ​ | 41%
​ Long-term contracts – We have long-term supply contracts that provide for certain of our TiO2 feedstock requirements through 2026. The agreements require us to purchase certain minimum quantities of feedstock with minimum purchase commitments aggregating approximately $583 million over the life of the contracts in years subsequent to December 31, 2023 (including approximately $465 million committed to be purchased in 2024). In addition, we have other long-term supply and service contracts that provide for various raw materials and services. These agreements require us to purchase certain minimum quantities or services with minimum purchase commitments aggregating approximately $72 million at December 31, 2023 (including approximately $38 million committed to be purchased in 2024). Income taxes – We are a party to a tax sharing agreement with Contran and Valhi providing for the allocation of tax liabilities and tax payments as described in Note 1. Under applicable law, we, along with every other member of the Contran Tax Group, are each jointly and severally liable for the aggregate federal income tax liability of Contran and the other companies included in the Contran Tax Group for all periods in which we are included in the Contran Tax Group. Valhi has agreed, however, to indemnify us for any liability for income taxes of the Contran Tax Group in excess of our tax liability computed in accordance with the tax sharing agreement.

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