Japan Titanium Shipment to Hit Another Record in 2008

Japanese titanium shipment will hit record both for sponge titanium and rolled products in 2008, announced by Japan Titanium Society on Thursday. The shipment is expected to reach 39,000 tonnes for sponge titanium and 21,000 tonnes for rolled products when the demand keeps firm for airplane and industry worldwide and the makers expand the supply capacity. The society expects the sponge titanium shipment will increase by 3% to 28,000 tonnes for domestic market in 2008 from 2007 while the shipment decreases by 4% to 11,000 tonnes for export. The rolled products shipment increases by 5% to 11,500 tonnes for domestic market and by 7% to 9,500 tonnes. The shipment was record 38,533 tonnes for sponge titanium and 19,087 tonnes for rolled products in 2007. The sponge titanium shipment increased by 11% to 27,108 tonnes for domestic market while the export decreased by 10% to 11,425 tonnes. The rolled products shipment increased by 15% to 10,894 tonnes for domestic market and by 5% to 8,103 tonnes for export. The titanium ingot shipment increased by 4% to 25,292 tonnes.