Japan Titanium Demand Hits 14-Year Low in F2009

Japanese titanium ingot production decreased by 51.3% to 12,368 tonnes in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008, announced by Japan Titanium Society on Thursday. The rolled titanium shipment decreased by 49.3% to 9,693 tonnes. The production and shipment was the lowest level since fiscal 1995 when the demand was very low for plate heat exchanger and automobile applications under slow economy.

The shipment decreased to less than 10,000 tonnes in fiscal 2009 for the first time since 9,007 tonnes in fiscal 1995. The domestic shipment decreased by 69.2% to 2,864 tonnes while the export decreased by 30.3% to 6,829 tonnes.

The domestic shipment decreased by 72.8% to 551 tonnes in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008. The shipment decreased to 155 tonnes in April-June 2009 from 664 tonnes in January-March 2009. The shipment was only 96 tonnes in October-December while the volume recovered to 134 tonnes in January-March 2010. The shipment decreased by 84.2% to 165 tonnes for automobile in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008.

With the low level demand, the ingot production decreased in fiscal 2009 as low as 12,268 tonnes in fiscal 1995.