Titanium Price: High-End Titanium Alloys Surge Amid Market Divergence (March 17–21 2025)

Market Overview

This week, the titanium market exhibited a sharp divergence. The surge in aerospace orders, coupled with rising sponge titanium prices, has propelled high-end titanium alloy and forged titanium product prices up by approximately 6%. However, excess capacity in civilian-grade titanium products—such as titanium pipes, billets, and rods—has led to a price correction, creating a stark contrast within the market.

Sponge Titanium: Prices Hold Steady Despite Weakened Demand

Last week, the price of domestically produced Grade 0 sponge titanium surpassed $7,065 per ton, yet downstream titanium processors showed limited purchasing interest. Sponge titanium producers have started to cut output, but inventories remain stable. With titanium ore and magnesium ingot prices providing support, sponge titanium prices are expected to remain steady in the near term.

Titanium & Titanium Alloy Ingots: Aerospace Demand Drives Premium Pricing

The demand for high-performance titanium alloys, especially those used in aerospace applications, has surged. Prices continue to climb as aerospace engine blade manufacturers secure Q2 orders in advance, pushing leading titanium producers to operate at full capacity. Meanwhile, general-purpose titanium alloys and pure titanium ingots remain well-supplied, keeping their prices stable.

Titanium Pipes: Civilian Market Faces Downward Pressure

In contrast, prices for welded titanium pipes used in civilian applications have declined. Private titanium pipe manufacturers in Zhejiang report capacity utilization rates below 60%, leading to rising inventory levels.

Key Industry Developments This Week

1. World’s Largest Titanium Alloy Structural Component Unveiled

On March 18, COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) announced that its C929 wide-body aircraft will feature an integrally formed titanium alloy main load-bearing frame, reducing weight by 40%. This breakthrough drove a single-day stock surge of over 7% for related forging companies.

2. EU Tightens Sanctions on Russian Titanium Giant

On March 20, the EU imposed 12th-round sanctions on VSMPO-AVISMA, Russia’s leading titanium producer. As a result, Airbus and Dassault Aviation have urgently pivoted to Chinese suppliers, securing a €360 million ($390 million) alternative order with titanium producers in Baoji, China.

3. Breakthrough in Titanium Recycling Technology

On March 15, the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, unveiled a new electrolytic refining technology for titanium scrap, capable of increasing recycled titanium purity to 99.95%. This innovation is projected to cut aerospace-grade titanium costs by 12–15%, potentially reshaping global supply dynamics.

Market Outlook: Diverging Trends in the Titanium Sector

In the short term, sponge titanium supply is expected to remain stable, while high-end titanium alloy prices may continue to rise. However, inventory clearance in the civilian titanium sector could extend into late Q2.

One notable development: General Electric (GE) announced on March 19 that it will begin testing vanadium-titanium-based high-temperature alloys, potentially triggering a new wave of competition in advanced material technology.

📈 Investors should closely monitor aerospace-driven demand, technological advancements, and geopolitical shifts, as these factors will shape the titanium market’s trajectory in the coming months.

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