Japan Titanium Production and Shipment Strongly Recover in F2010

Japanese titanium ingot production totaled 24,368 tonnes in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011, which increased by 97% from fiscal 2009, announced by Japan Titanium Society on Thursday. The rolled titanium shipment including the export increased by 61% to 15,610 tonnes. The market condition largely improved from the economic deterioration in fiscal 2009. Titanium inventory adjustment progressed and the actual demand recovered. Meanwhile, both ingot production and rolled products shipment couldn’t reached the pre Lehman Shock level in fiscal 2008.

In fiscal 2009, titanium ingot production more than halved from fiscal 2008 and rolled titanium shipment dropped to below 10,000 tonnes. Both figures hit the yearly lowest since fiscal 1995. In fiscal 2010, airplane production recovered and increased including Boeing 787. The increase of airplane construction contributed to titanium demand recovery.

Titanium demand also recovered in industrial fields. Especially in December 2010, Japanese makers received large-lot orders for titanium plate and tube adopted to a desalination plant constructed in Saudi Arabia.