Titanium

A chlorine gas leak at Kazakhstan’s Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant has raised concerns about potential supply disruptions that could drive global titanium prices up at least 15-20%, according to observers’ forecasts. The incident at UKTMP, which supplies 11% of global titanium production and 18% of aerospace-grade metal, highlights the concentrated nature of titanium supply...

VSMPO-Avisma, based in Verkhnyaya Salda, Russia, reported a 32% decrease in net profit under IFRS for 2024, totaling more than 16.85 billion rubles (about $182 million USD). This marks a notable decline from the 24.85 billion rubles (about $269 million USD) recorded in 2023. The company’s revenue also fell by 2.4% to 118.55 billion rubles...

Airbus and Boeing are laying the groundwork for unprecedented production increases of their next-generation single-aisle aircraft, targeting rates of up to 100 planes per month. Both manufacturers are actively researching advanced thermoplastic composite materials and robotic assembly techniques to streamline manufacturing processes and meet soaring demand. This marks a significant shift from the aluminum-based construction...

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance metal 3D printing, optimizing the production of high-performance titanium alloy components. Their AI-driven approach accelerates the manufacturing process for Ti-6Al-4V, a widely used titanium alloy valued for its strength and low weight. “The...

France significantly increased its titanium imports from Russia in 2024, reaching a historic high of €108.6 million, according to Eurostat data analyzed by RIA Novosti. France imported 2,400 tonnes of Russian titanium last year, with the value of purchases rising by nearly 19% compared to the previous year. In volume terms, imports increased by 22%,...

VSMPO-Avisma Corporation has expressed interest in participating in both domestic and international projects, provided they ensure mutually beneficial cooperation. The corporation’s press service confirmed this position in a statement to TASS. “The corporation is interested in projects, including foreign ones, where there is demand for high-tech titanium products, of course, provided that it is mutually...

Rio Tinto’s 74%-owned South African subsidiary, Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), has signed a deal with independent power producer Red Rocket South Africa for 230 MW of wind energy. The renewable power will supply RBM’s smelting and processing facilities at its Richards Bay ilmenite operation, the company announced on January 30. Red Rocket is developing the...

In December 2024, the India Times reported that Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Combine (UKTMK) signed an agreement with Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) to create a joint venture in India. The new facility will process ilmenite, sourced from Odisha with low titanium oxide (TiO2) content, into titanium slag, a material highly sought after in the...