Toho Titanium to Expand Sponge Titanium Output to Annual 28,000 tonnes

Toho Titanium announced on Wednesday the firm builds new plant in Yawata works of Nippon Steel to increase the sponge titanium output capacity to annual 28,000 tonnes in fiscal 2009 ending March 2010 from current 15,000 tonnes. The firm revised the expansion plan from previous 22,000 tonnes. The firm announced expansion plan for titanium ingot and sponge titanium in November 2005 to meet surging demand. The expansion plan for the ingot in Yawata works is under way to complete in March 2008. The firm said the firm would expand the sponge titanium output capacity step by step in Chigasaki plant to annual 22,000 tonnes by fiscal 2011. However, the firm revised the sponge titanium expansion plan upward when the demand expands rapidly for chemical plant and seawater desalting plant along with airplane. The firm will add a reducing furnace and related facilities in Chigasaki plant in fiscal 2007 to increase the output capacity to annual 16,000 tonnes. The firm starts building of the new plant with annual 12,000 tonnes of capacity in Yawata works in fiscal 2007 finishing the works in fiscal 2009. The firm said the investment amount was not decided. The firm considers another expansion by annual 6,000 tonnes at Chigasaki and by 12,000 tonnes at Yawata in future.