Japanese Titanium Sponge Export and Import Keeps Active

Japanese titanium material export and import have increased. The export hit the third highest record at 1,914 tonnes in June, according to the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. The demand is strong from overseas aerospace industry. The import also keeps high level at 400-500 tonnes per month. Imported materials seem to be used for common grade rolled titanium products when domestic sponge supply remains tight.

The export of titanium materials, mostly titanium sponge, surged in autumn 2010 and exceeded 2,000 tonnes per month in December 2010 and March 2011. The export in June 2011 hit the highest volume after March. The export accumulated 10,859 tonnes for January-June 2011, which increased to 2.1 times of same period of 2010.

In June, the export was 1,053 tonnes for the U.S.A., 470 tonnes for United Kingdom and 228 tonnes for South Korea. The demand is strong from airplane engine makers in Europe and the U.S.A. The export for South Korea keeps around 200 tonnes per month this year though there was little export a year earlier. The main factor seems that Korean major steel maker started operation of its new rolling mill.

Japanese titanium material import totaled 2,472 tonnes for January-June 2011, which increased by 68.6% from the same period of 2010. The import was 433 tonnes in June. The import was 230 tonnes from Kazakhstan, 140 tonnes from Ukraine and 57 tonnes from China. Japanese domestic sponge supply is shortening for general grade rolled titanium products. Thus Japanese titanium re-rollers seem to use imported sponge blended with Japanese sponge.