VSMPO-AVISMA to Produce 42,000t Ti Sponge in 2012

VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation of Russia is expected to produce titanium sponge at 42,000 tonne and titanium rolled products at 46,200 tonnes in 2012, according to the speech made by Rakahman Turgyn, a trader of Advanced Material Japan Corporation, at Japan Titanium Society. Titanium sponge output will increase by 23.5% compared with 2007 while titanium rolled products by 67.8%. The firm plans capital expenditure at total US$ 1 billion during 2006-2012 for capacity expansion.VSMPO-AVISMA produced titanium sponge at 34,000 tonnes in 2007, increasing by 6.3% year-on-year, and titanium rolled products at 27,540 tonnes, up by 16.2%. In 2008, titanium sponge output is expected at 34,000 tonnes and titanium rolled products at 31,500 tonnes. More than 20,000 tonnes of titanium rolled products will be exported in 2008. The firm supplies titanium rolled products to airplane makers with 30-40% shares for Boeing and 55-60% shares for Airbus.Other titanium makers around Russia also plan to expand titanium sponge outputs. Ukrainian national maker, ZTMC is expected to produce titanium sponge at 10,300 tonne in 2008, exceeding its output capacity and increasing by 11 times from 10 years ago. UKTMP of Kazakhstan will also increase titanium sponge production. In addition, the firm plans to start titanium ingot production business.