Japan Rolled Titanium Shipment to Rise by 6.8% in 2007

Japanese rolled titanium shipment will increase by 6.8% to 18,500 tonnes in 2007 from 2006, announced by Japan Titanium Society on Thursday. The output increases due to expansion by 2 major sponge titanium makers and firm demand after the output decreased in 2006 for the first time in 3 years due to limited availability of raw materials despite of the firm demand. World titanium demand keeps firm for airplane industry and plant applications. The society expects the domestic rolled products shipment increases in 2007 from dropped 2006 when the demand keeps the high level in 2007. The material of sponge titanium output increases to 38,000 tonnes in 2007 from 36,995 tonnes in 2006 when Sumitomo Titanium and Toho Titanium expand the capacity. The domestic rolled products shipment was well below the original estimated 19,000 tonnes in 2006. The society said the shipment decreased under lower raw material import, very low level of makers’ inventory including intermediate and longer lead time despite of strong demand. The rolled titanium shipment decreased by 5% to 9,577 tonnes in 2006 from 2005. The shipment to distributors decreased by 26.7% to 1,475 tonnes while the shipment increased by 8.8% to automobile applications mainly for motorcycle muffler.