Japan Titanium Material Import Increases from China and Ukraine

Japanese import of sponge titanium and titanium ingot is increasing from new suppliers such as China and Ukraine. The monthly averaged import volume increased to 4.5 times from China during January-September 2007 compared with the corresponding period of 2006 while to 3 times from Ukraine.Japanese import of sponge titanium and titanium ingot, except titanium niobium alloy, totaled 4,262 tonnes during the first 9 months of 2007. The import amount during 9M07 already exceeded the yearly import volume in 2006. The monthly average was 474 tonnes in 9M07 and increased by 67% compared with the monthly average of 9M06.The import from Russia increased by 29% from a year ago at a monthly average. Most imports are titanium ingot but sponge titanium also seems increasing recently. Japanese titanium manufacturers have procured titanium materials from Russia long before to cover temporary material shortage. Japanese titanium import from Russia has been much in volume.The import from China totaled 1,388 tonnes during 9M07 and the monthly average was 154 tonnes. Most of the import is sponge titanium and some seems to be used for additives in steel making. The import from China kept above 100 tonnes in and after February 2007, which exceeded Russia at 245 tonnes in July and at 248 tonnes in August.The import from Ukraine more than doubled to 649 tonnes during 9M07 compared with the annual import in 2006. Ukraine became the thirdly largest titanium exporter for Japan, surpassing the USA and Kazakhstan. Import shape seems shifting from titanium ingot to sponge titanium.Titanium demand maintains strong in Japan for plants and heat exchangers of ships. In Japan, Osaka Titanium Technologies plans to start the initial operation of its new sponge titanium plant in January 2009. Domestic titanium material supply seems to maintain short by the start. Japanese titanium manufacturers would cover material shortage with overseas sponge titanium and titanium ingot within 2008 at least.